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Electoral Systems and Electoral Reform

Electoral SystemsElectoral Systems

While numerous variations exist, including While numerous variations exist, including complex combinations of multiple systems, there complex combinations of multiple systems, there are five main electoral systems:are five main electoral systems:

1.1. First Past the Post (FPTP)First Past the Post (FPTP)

2.2. RunoffRunoff

3.3. Proportional Representation (PR)Proportional Representation (PR)

4.4. Mixed Member Proportional (MMP)Mixed Member Proportional (MMP)

5.5. Electoral College (only in the US, only for Pres.)Electoral College (only in the US, only for Pres.)


1.1. First Past the Post (FPTP)First Past the Post (FPTP)

In FPTP systems, the winning candidate is In FPTP systems, the winning candidate is simply simply the person who wins most votesthe person who wins most votes. .

In theory, a candidate could be elected In theory, a candidate could be elected with two votes, if every other candidate with two votes, if every other candidate only secured a single vote. only secured a single vote.

FPTP systems are mainly used in former FPTP systems are mainly used in former British Empire countries.British Empire countries.

Electoral SystemsElectoral Systems2.2. Runoff Runoff

Runoff voting is where successive rounds of Runoff voting is where successive rounds of voting are held until a candidate voting are held until a candidate wins a wins a majority of the positive votesmajority of the positive votes. .

After each inconclusive round, those After each inconclusive round, those candidates at the bottom whose votes candidates at the bottom whose votes together do not add up to the votes of the together do not add up to the votes of the next candidate are eliminated.next candidate are eliminated.

Presidential elections in France and Finland Presidential elections in France and Finland as well as selecting Olympic host cities use as well as selecting Olympic host cities use this process of votingthis process of voting


3.3. Proportional Representation (PR)Proportional Representation (PR)

PR systems give political parties in PR systems give political parties in parliament or legislative assemblies a parliament or legislative assemblies a number of seats approximately proportional number of seats approximately proportional to the percentage of vote they receivedto the percentage of vote they received..

PR systems are used in Israel, The PR systems are used in Israel, The Netherlands, and Cambridge MA (most Netherlands, and Cambridge MA (most jurisdictions do not appear to use the jurisdictions do not appear to use the “pure” PR method)“pure” PR method)


4.4. Mixed Member Proportionality (MMP)Mixed Member Proportionality (MMP)

A hybrid system of both FPTP and PRA hybrid system of both FPTP and PR

Each voter casts a Each voter casts a vote for a local vote for a local candidatecandidate (who wins by obtaining the most (who wins by obtaining the most votes) votes) AND a vote for the political partyAND a vote for the political party of of their choosing (which wins seats based on their choosing (which wins seats based on the total popular vote)the total popular vote)

MMP is used in Germany, Mexico, Italy, New MMP is used in Germany, Mexico, Italy, New Zealand, and other parts of the worldZealand, and other parts of the world


Vote for a local candidate

…AND vote for a party

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Bundestagswahl_05_stimmzett.jpg


5.5. Electoral CollegeElectoral College How to elect the President of the United How to elect the President of the United

States?States? Each state is represented by a number of Each state is represented by a number of

individuals proportionate to its seats in individuals proportionate to its seats in Congress, that is, two Senators and a number Congress, that is, two Senators and a number of Representatives based on the state's of Representatives based on the state's population.population.

There are 538 electors, so There are 538 electors, so 270270 votes are votes are required to win the presidency.required to win the presidency.

The process for selecting electors varies The process for selecting electors varies throughout the United States (each state throughout the United States (each state decides the process for choosing its decides the process for choosing its “electors” “electors”


48 out of the 50 states award electoral votes on 48 out of the 50 states award electoral votes on a a winner-takes-all basiswinner-takes-all basis (exceptions: Maine (exceptions: Maine and Nebraska). and Nebraska).

For example, all 55 of California's electoral For example, all 55 of California's electoral votes go to the winner of that state election, votes go to the winner of that state election, even if the margin of victory is only 50.1 even if the margin of victory is only 50.1 percent to 49.9 percent. percent to 49.9 percent.

It is therefore quite possible that a presidential It is therefore quite possible that a presidential candidate can win the majority of the popular candidate can win the majority of the popular vote nationally, but not become president.vote nationally, but not become president.


Given the previous slide’s distribution of Given the previous slide’s distribution of numbers, it is possible to win the numbers, it is possible to win the presidential election by winning in just presidential election by winning in just 12 12 statesstates!!

Electoral ReformElectoral Reform Voter ApathyVoter Apathy

Why Don’t People Vote? Why Don’t People Vote? (Maclean’s)(Maclean’s) Why Are People Not Voting? Why Are People Not Voting? (Maple Leaf Web)(Maple Leaf Web) Explaining the Turnout Decline… Explaining the Turnout Decline… (StatsCan Study)(StatsCan Study) The Importance of One Vote The Importance of One Vote

Solutions?Solutions? EducationEducation Compulsory VotingCompulsory Voting Others?Others?

Electoral ReformElectoral Reform

Voting System Reform in CanadaVoting System Reform in Canada

www.fairvote.ca


Democratic Renewal Secretariat (Ontario)Democratic Renewal Secretariat (Ontario)

www.democraticrenewal.gov.on.ca


Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform (Ontario)(Ontario)

www.citizensassembly.gov.on.ca


StudentsStudents' Assembly on Electoral Reform ' Assembly on Electoral Reform (Ontario)(Ontario)

www.studentsassembly.ca

http://www.studentsassembly.ca/index.php


I am a grade 12 student at Anderson CVI. I I am a grade 12 student at Anderson CVI. I am planning on majoring in Political Science am planning on majoring in Political Science at the University of Toronto. I love politics, at the University of Toronto. I love politics, one day I would like to work for the Canadian one day I would like to work for the Canadian Government or the United Nations. I am an Government or the United Nations. I am an active participant in my community; I active participant in my community; I volunteer at many places including the volunteer at many places including the YMCA. I am also part of the Culture of Peace YMCA. I am also part of the Culture of Peace Committee at my school and am part of many Committee at my school and am part of many groups including the HIV/AIDS campaign, and groups including the HIV/AIDS campaign, and plan on starting my own committee on plan on starting my own committee on stopping the use of child soldiers in Sudan. stopping the use of child soldiers in Sudan.

http://www.studentsassembly.ca/index.php


Minister for Democratic Minister for Democratic Reform (Canada)Reform (Canada) ““planning to organize planning to organize

public consultations on public consultations on Canada's democratic Canada's democratic institutions and institutions and practices” (Jan 15, 2007)practices” (Jan 15, 2007)

12 citizens' forums will be 12 citizens' forums will be asked to provide their asked to provide their views on a wide range of views on a wide range of areas, including:areas, including: political parties; political parties; the electoral system; the electoral system; the House of Commons; the House of Commons; the Senate; and the Senate; and the role of the citizen. the role of the citizen.

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