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Submission RICHARDSON-0895 (Online)

Submission ByMr John Richardson
AddressVancouver, BC, Canada
Organization
Date20040728
CategoryCitizens' Assembly process, Electoral system change
Abstract
I urge the Citizens' Assembly to spell out its proposed change in legislation-like detail. Only through such a drafting process can all the practical considerations be grasped of how a new voting system would work. [1 page]

Submission Content
I was one of the lawyers involved in writing up the draft legislation for the 2002 Initiative to Establish a Proportional Representation Electoral System in BC titled: Proportional Representation Electoral Amendment Act. See http://www.elections.bc.ca/init/carrdraftbill.pdf for a copy.

I urge the Citizens' Assembly to spell out its proposed change in similar draft legislation-like detail. Only by embarking on such a drafting process can all the practical considerations of how a new voting system would work in BC be ironed out. Writing legislation forces you to think through what you are trying to achieve -- hopefully a voting system where votes count towards representation as equally and as fairly as possible. Also, such detail is needed so that the voting public fairly judge and make an informed choice between the current system and the proposed one.

If the Citizens' Assembly referendum calls for a new voting system without spelling out sufficient detail, the newly elected government could draft legislation that does not deliver the intent of the referendum. This is what happened with the unworkable Recall and Initiative Act that was drafted and passed in 1995 after the 1991 vague referendum question about instituting such legislation passed by over 80% of the voters.

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