I would like to see a mixed system, with about half the seats in
the legislature elected from party lists according to the
porportion of popular vote received by the party, and the rest of
the seats representing local constituencies [MMP]. I understand we
might have to increase the size of the legislature to do this, and
ridings may become somewhat larger. This seems a small price to pay
for having a meaningful vote in each election. I understand also
that we would need a cutoff point below which parties are excluded;
5% of the popular vote apparently works in other countries as a
cutoff point. Another question is whether the party lists should be
open or closed. I don't believe most voters take the time to
research the people on the party lists thoroughly, so that suggests
that closed lists might be a simpler and better alternative.
I am more convinced than ever that we need electoral reform; the
current federal election campaign presents all the familiar,
horrible, and undemocratic dilemmmas -- how can I make sure my vote
will not help to split support for the parties I support and
perversely end up electing a party I do not support? I believe that
a system that forces people to vote strategically, such as our
current one, is profoundly undemocratic. You can only vote
strategically if you know how everyone else is voting -- an
impossibility. Such a system gives the illusion of democracy, but
in fact leaves voters with no power whatever.
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