BC-STV: Eliminates Geographical Polarization

If you look at B.C. coloured by political party, you will see huge chunks of the province are red and huge chunks of the province are orange. The red areas of the province are represented by a member of the government and the orange areas are represented by a member of the opposition.



<--2005 Election Result.

What this means, is that people who live in red areas have better representation in government (and often have more money sent their way) but don't have anyone who will be vocal about bad policy. The orange areas will have someone to make a fuss whenever anything goes wrong, but they are always in opposition.

BC-STV is regional proportional system which means that you will take anywhere from 2-7 of those ridings and combine them together. Under these new districts each area will be partially red, partially orange with a few specs of Green and perhaps a few grey dots. (independents).

BC-STV is one of the few electoral systems that ensures that every area can have comparatively equal representation in government as well as equal representation in opposition.

Some areas may have slightly more government representatives or slightly more opposition representatives, but very few areas will have more than a seat or two difference and it is nearly impossible for one party to win all of the seats in a district.

Under BC-STV, as long as a party gets close to 20% in area, they are usually guaranteed a seat, and in most regions someone with 7-10% will pick up enough second place votes to put a small party over the edge.

What this results is a legislature that is much more balances.

If you think of a fight between the opposition and the government under current circumstances, you will see a fight between various regions. It is not merely an NDP versus Liberal fight, it is people elected from one area versus people elected from another area.

Vancouver Island vs North Shore. Vancouver South West vs Vancouver North East. Northern Interior vs Southern Interior.

Under BC-STV, you still may have a government against an opposition, but it will no longer be divided upon regional lines.