Submission MACDONALD-1526 (Online)

A proposal for runoff selection of candidates if none gains 50% of the riding's votes. After the election, each candidate would have a ballot weighted according to the number of votes received in general polling.  [2 pages]

The subject of electoral reform has been the subject of much debate in recent years, largely on the topic of large legislative majorities formed with a minority of popular vote; forty percent or even less. An oft mentioned solution is a system of proportional representation which I personally do not support since it could lead to a disconnection from the ridings of appointed Members of the Legislative Assembly.

An alternative proposal would be the concept of a runoff determination of a riding representative in the event that no candidate receives votes of fifty percent plus one or more of total votes cast in general polling. In such a case, all candidates would be sequestered under the supervision of the returning officer for the selection of their MLA. Each participant would have a ballot weighted according to the number of votes received in general polling. The preliminary nominees would be those largest recipients of ballots from general polling results having a cumulative total of not less than seventy percent of total votes cast in general polling. Normal rules of voter privacy would prevail in this process.

Following each round of voting, if none of the nominees receives a weighted ballot count of fifty percent plus one of total weighted ballots cast, the lowest ranking nominee would be dropped and the process would be repeated.

If any of the delegates chooses not to participate in this process, the result would be a simple adjustment to total votes required to prevail.

This is a well known process in the Canadian political arena, the best known example being the election of leaders of political parties.

It may well be the case that the outcome from the conventional first past the post methodology would remain unchanged. The principal benefit could be that every voter would be assured that every ballot cast counted towards something This would be an important consideration in remote ridings having a vast geographic area and a rich diversity of culture and tradition.

[Entered online from a scanned document]