Submission CRAIGHEAD-1023 (Online)
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Submission By | Alastair Craighead |
Address | Victoria, BC, Canada |
Organization | |
Date | 20040810 |
Category | Electoral system change |
Abstract
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The system that I would like to see is the mixed member
proportional [MMP] system because it gives local representation as
well as ensuring a proportional result of seats won by a party in
accordance with the number of votes gained. [1 page]
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Submission Content
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I wish to submit the following comments to the Citizens'
Assembly.
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I would like to see a system of proportional representation used
to elect MLAs in British Columbia.
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I want this kind of system because I often find that niether of
the major parties represents my views about how British Columbia
should be goverened.I also note that in general the number of votes
a party receives bears little relation to the number of seats it
gets. I believe this is unfair to the voters whose voices remain
unheard and to the party who may receive much support but no
representation in terms of seats and voices in the legislature.
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The system that I would like to see is the mixed member
proportional [MMP] system because it gives local representation as
well as ensuring a proportional result of seats won by a party in
accordance with the number of citizens who cast votes for that
party. I realise this means that the electoral districts would have
to be larger but I am quite happy to accept this because I know
that at least one of my votes cast under this system will truly
represent my political views and will contribute to possibly
electing an MLA who will then be able to express them in the
Legislature.
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I do not favour the single transferabel
vote [STV] system of election because it is
not truly proportional. Also, I do not want to have to rank a large
number of candidates as I feel I am unlikely to know enough about
them to do this meaningfully. Also, the vote counting system is too
complex for people to understand the meaning and actual effect of
their vote. I believe that if such a sytem is put to the people of
British Columbia it will be rejected.
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