• No repeat of 2001 election where less than 60 per cent of votes won 97 per cent of Legislative seats.
• More proportional representation, or makeup of Legislature will more accurately reflect actual vote.
• Ridings would not feel voiceless if they elect a MLA from a minority party.
• More emphasis on coalitions and co-operation in Legislature, empowering opposition parties.
• Fewer votes "wasted" on underdog, alternative, independent or third party candidates.
• Larger ridings with multiple members would wield more clout.
• Allows voters to rank candidates from same parties.
• Forces candidates to focus more on wants of constituents than party platform.
Points against BC-STV
Leading Proponent: The Know STV Campaign, No To STV – www.knowstv.ca, www.no2stv.ca
• People are asked to make choice at a time when they’re unfamiliar with the system.
• Alleged misrepresentation and misunderstanding of how vote would work, and what effect that would have on government.
• Candidates can get elected to Legislature with less than 15 per cent of the vote within a riding.
• Large ridings would make it more expensive and more difficult to mount an effective campaign – creating a greater emphasis on political parties.
• A strong party system is essential for government to be effective.
• BC-STV could result in ineffective minority governments.
• The BC-STV system would create huge ridings in the north with little proportional representation, and huge urban ridings that will be difficult to represent.
• Other forms of proportional representation are simpler and have been proven more effective in other jurisdictions.
• STV ballots, vote tallying would be too complicated for most voters.
