Abstract: I propose a majority system (50% + 1) whereby a candidate
to be elected must get at least 50% + 1 of the votes that represent
50% + 1 of the riding's voters' list.
Previously, I submitted for your consideration a proposal that
among called for:
-
a uniformisation as much as possible of the population size of
all ridings by reducing the deviance presently set by the Electoral
Boundaries Commission Act from 25% to a much lower level, and
-
a turnout threshold of any level (i.e., 50%, 60%, 66%, etc...)
in a majority system (50% + 1 of the votes) that must be met to
validate the riding election.
Afterwards, I promote this concept with my peers and that key
concern that emerged was that a situation would likely arise
whereby a candidate that can get 50% + 1 of the votes to win, but
his/her opponents can deny that victory purposefully or
inadvertently by not being successful in turning out the vote. Much
much reflexion and discussion, I have decided to submit the
following proposal.
A majority system (50% + 1) of the votes that must be 50% + 1 of
the riding's voters' list. This means that independently of the
turnout to validate the election, the winning candidate must have
obtained the votes of at least half of the voters eligible to vote.
Assuredly, with the vote of the other candidates, the turnout will
be greater than 50%. Furthermore, this means uncontestably that
each candidate elected to the legislature in this manner has been
supported by at least half of the voters (and is a strong and
widely supported candidate), not just half of those who voted.
Ridings that fail to have elected a member in this way can do so 1
week later with the top candidates with the same rules. Those
ridings failing to elect a member after a second try will either:
1) have a by-election a few months later, or 2) have no
representation for the duration of the legislative term.
For example, under a simple majority system of 50% + 1 of the votes
with a turnout of 80%, the winner actually got a 40% + 1 support
from the riding's voters. In the method that I propose, the winner
must get 50% + 1 of voters' list, and with a hypothetical turnout
of 80%, the winner would have obtained 62.5% of the votes cast.
Thank you for allowing me to present my ideas to you.
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