Vote yes to better elections
- Details
- Published on Friday, 09 November 2018 08:22
- Written by editor
Ballots are in the mail and we couldn't be more excited.
Dear PAOV,
Did your ballot come in the mail yet?
Now that the voting period on proportional representation (Pro Rep) is open, voting packages have been mailed to homes all across British Columbia. This referendum's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve our democratic processes, so please be on the lookout for your ballot.
Here at Stand, we're excited about this opportunity for a new, better voting system and we hope you'll vote YES to Pro Rep.
We believe Pro Rep will help to foster values like cooperation and inclusiveness – the same kind of values we need to tackle big challenges like climate change. In BC, the vast majority of us care about protecting biodiversity, tackling climate change and safeguarding the survival of iconic species like orcas and wild salmon. But in a voting system where parties can get 100% of the power with less than 50% of the vote, these values aren't always reflected.
Under this new electoral system, parties would gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them. A party that gets 40% of the vote will get 40% of the seats – simple. That means there's no pressure to vote strategically, and no worry that your vote might be wasted. Under proportional representation, you can be sure your vote will count and your voice will be reflected in legislature.
If you want to learn more about Pro Rep or about the 3 specific systems you can also vote for on the ballot, the Vote PR BC website is a great resource. And if the options in question 2 seem overwhelming, you have the ability to vote YES to Pro Rep in question 1 and leave question 2 blank. (We believe that all the options offered in question 2 are better than our current voting system.)
It's time to stop wasting our votes and choose a system where every vote counts. It's time to follow the lead of more than 90 countries around the world – from Australia to Sweden – that are already using some form of Pro Rep. So check the mail and cast your vote today.
In solidarity,
Sven Biggs
Climate and Energy Campaigner
p.s. If your ballot hasn't come yet, you can request one online through the Elections BC website until Nov 23rd.
p.p.s. If you want to get involved campaigning for Pro Rep, Leadnow and the Sierra Club BC are both hosting phone banks where you can call other voters and talk to them about the referendum.
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