As the only major electoral reform organization who also proposed what to do to make elections fairer if the outcome of the process was no change to the electoral system, 123 Canada didn’t view a change to the electoral systems as an all or nothing proposition. Our alternative proposal has something for everyone, whether their preference is preferential, proportional, or…
Open Letter to Karina Gould About Mydemocracy.ca Survey Results
Dear Minister Gould, We would like to assist in interpreting the results of the mydemocracy.ca survey. The survey was a very useful tool for understanding what Canadian voters wish for in their electoral system and in their Parliament, despite its flaws. Many commentators have said that the survey results contain contradictions. We disagree. They only seem like contradictions to those…
123 Canada’s submission to the Electoral Reform Committee
Canada’s electoral reform committee has asked individuals and groups to present briefs. Here is 123 Canada’s brief. submission-to-erre-from-123-canada Highlights are: Among the hundred witnesses and panelists the committee allowed, virtually none were preferential voting experts. We propose 3 alternatives: A) Optional Preferential Voting, B) Two-Round System, C) Reforms in case the electoral system is unchanged. Preferential voting is mainstream in…
Who Would Benefit From Preferential Voting?
Is there any truth to the claim that preferential voting would result in more majority governments for centrist parties? The evidence seems to point to the opposite conclusion, fewer majority governments and no benefit to centrist parties. Both in Australia with Alternative Voting, and in France with two-round voting, two forms of preferential voting, centrist parties have not been successful. The…
Extremist Politics
What do Jean-Marie Le Pen, Nigel Farage, and Marine Le Pen have in common? All three are or were leaders of major anti-immigrant parties. All three have repeatedly tried and failed to get elected in their country in single-member districts. And all of them keep on being easily re-elected to the European Parliament, which uses multi-member districts. In fact, Jean-Marie Le Pen…
Principle E: Local Representation
On May 10, the government released its principles for electoral reform. In this series we are looking at those principles one by one. (e) Local representation: that the proposed measure would ensure accountability and recognize the value that Canadians attach to community, to Members of Parliament understanding local conditions and advancing local needs at the national level, and to having access…
Principle D: Integrity
On May 10, the government released its principles for electoral reform. In this series we are looking at those principles one by one. (d) Integrity: that the proposed measure can be implemented while safeguarding public trust in the election process, by ensuring reliable and verifiable results obtained through an effective and objective process that is secure and preserves vote secrecy for…
Principle C: Accessibility and Inclusiveness
On May 10, the government released its principles for electoral reform. In this series we are looking at those principles one by one. (c) Accessibility and inclusiveness: that the proposed measure would avoid undue complexity in the voting process, while respecting the other principles, and that it would support access by all eligible voters regardless of physical or social condition; Complexity…
Principle B: Engagement
On May 10, the government released its principles for electoral reform. In this series we are looking at those principles one by one. (b) Engagement: that the proposed measure would encourage voting and participation in the democratic process, foster greater civility and collaboration in politics, enhance social cohesion and offer opportunities for inclusion of underrepresented groups in the political process;…
Principle A: Effectiveness and legitimacy
On May 10, the government released its principles for electoral reform. In this series we are looking at those principles one by one. Principle A: “Effectiveness and legitimacy: that the proposed measure would increase public confidence among Canadians that their democratic will, as expressed by their votes, will be fairly translated and that the proposed measure reduces distortion and strengthens…