A more modest electoral reform: preferential ballots

(Submitted 14 May 2009 and edited for typos on currently recorded submission date.)

In light of the fourth failed referendum on electoral reform in Canada; I suggest that we set our sights a bit lower.  While I still think that STV would be an excellent system for Canada, the Canadian public has made it clear that they do not want this kind of large-scale reform now.  Rather than blaming the results on misinformation or any other excuses, I think it would be in the best interests of the party to take the banner of a less ambitious reform.

My suggestion is a preferential ballots system, otherwise known as alternative vote and instant-runoff voting.  In this system we would keep the same single-member electoral districts but would allow voters to rank their choices.  The candidate with the fewest votes would be dropped from the ballot until one candidate had at least 50% of the vote in that district.  Many people will be familiar with this system as it is used to elect the leaders of most parties.

While this system does not have the proportional element that most advocates of electoral reform want, it has several advantages over first-past-the-post:

1. It eliminates the need for strategic voting, letting voters express their true preference.  It would no longer be necessary for a supporter of a small party to vote for one of the big two because their favoured party has little chance of winning the riding.  They could give their first choice vote to their party they truly like, while giving their second, back-up vote, to a party more likely to win.
2. It eliminates vote-splitting, meaning that a candidate liked by 40% of the candidates and hated by 60% will not take the seat by default because those 60% were split 30-30 between two parties.
3. It keeps all of the full regional representation that people like about the current system.
4. It is easy to understand and does not require the as much math knowlege as STV.
5. It makes campaigns friendlier.  It’s hard to win on a first ballot, so parties will try to win the second-choice votes of their opponents’ supporters.  This means that they are more polite to those opponents so that they do not alienate potential second-choice supporters.
6. Friendlier campaigns encourage more diverse and better candidates.  Any smart person who does not want to be a part of the mudslinging of current campaigns will be more likely to run for office under a friendlier system.  This often includes underrepresented groups like immigrants and women.

I know that strong supporters of electoral reform will balk at a non-proportional system, but a proportional ballot system has a much better chance of passing than the STV or mixed-member systems that voters have repeatedly rejected.  Making the small but significant change to preferential ballots could be done quickly, with little structural reform, and with the support of the public.  It would be an excellent first step to a more representative government.

A more modest electoral reform: preferential ballots