Proportional voting systems don’t solve the problem either
Editor:
If we want to attain a genuine representative democracy where the government is freely elected and voters are treated equally across constituencies, we need a mechanism that will ensure voter parity.
The answer, I believe, lies with a Parity Electoral System (PES). Just imagine what this would mean for our current political parties. But first, some disturbing facts.
In a previous letter, I mentioned the meaning of democracy is often obfuscated by those who have peculiar interpretations, thereby bastardizing any common understanding.
A similar outcome occurs when the term “proportional” representation is used to imply voter parity in politics. Several provinces have held studies to determine if there is an electoral system suitable to replace our first-past-the-post system.
Four of them recommended a mixed-member proportional system and MMP was runner up in another to a single-transferable vote system. All were subsequently rejected. Why?
The answer may be found in a book, Electoral Systems, by David Farrell. He suggests many variations of the MMP approach are modified versions of the FPTP model. He concludes: “If specialists cannot agree on which are best, it is hardly so surprising that the politicians have come up with such a range of different electoral systems.”
A typical MMP legislature has a fixed ratio of riding seats to list seats. Prior to an election, party executives submit a ranked list of candidates to elections authority.
A single ballot is used to elect riding candidates and a second ballot is used to indicate the party that voters want to control the legislature. The number of votes garnered on this ballot is a party’s popular vote. A party that receives 25 per cent of the total popular vote is entitled to 25 per cent of the legislative seats.
The number of ridings won is then reconciled with a party’s entitlement to legislative seats. In a legislature of 60 seats, a party that receives 25 per cent of the popular vote is entitled to 15 seats. If its candidates win three ridings, an additional 12 seats will be allotted.
Thus, we have a version of proportional representation that retains many aspects of a FPTP system.
Another variation is the alternative vote method, where voters rank a list of candidates. Candidates with the lowest vote totals are eliminated through successive rounds until one candidate gets a majority of the vote.
Each approach is intended to promote greater equality and fairness for voters. I do not believe such half measures address the need for fullblown voter parity.
An MMP system will lead to increased activity in doling out political spoils. MPs and MLAs previously elected, but subsequently unsuccessful, could be given the nod as list candidates by their parties. Payment for past services rendered and other favours via cronyism and nepotism could become the norm.
Fair representation of voters has been a long-standing problem. Our current FPTP structure confines the value of each vote to a single riding.
This is the root cause for the large disparity between the numbers of votes cast and those that actually help elect candidates.
The most effective way to provide fair allocation of seats is to utilize each party’s popular vote in conjunction with two forms of competition: interspecific competition (between candidates within the same riding) and intraspecific competition (between candidates within the same party). This would ensure all votes across ridings would consistently provide parity in the selection of candidates. How does it work? Begin by establishing the number of votes in a parity seat. Divide the total votes by the number of legislative seats for the province. Then divide each party’s popular vote by this number to establish a party’s entitlement to parity seats.
Next, prepare party lists by ranking the popular vote percentage of each candidate, then, using a party’s entitlement to parity seats and individual rankings by riding from party lists, allot the legislative seats.
A parity approach will utilize over 95 per cent of all votes cast.
The root problem of current electoral systems is caused by not fully utilizing proportionate voting. This can easily be changed by adopting a Parity Electoral System approach.