Issue

FILE CLOSED – December 20, 2018: Elections BC announced the results of the electoral reform referendum. With 42.6 per cent of eligible voters responding, 61.3 per cent voted to keep the current First Past the Post (FPTP) method for electing members of the legislative assembly (MLA) in B.C. This is the third time in 15 years that B.C. voters have voted to retain the current electoral system.

In the event that more people supported proportional representation over FPTP, the ballots cast indicated mixed-member proportional was the preferred option of the three proportional representation models voted on. Still, MMP will not be implemented because proportional representation failed on the first ballot question against FPTP.

Background

Between October 22 and November 30, 2018, the BC provincial government will be conducting a referendum on electoral reform in order to decide which voting system British Columbia will use for future provincial elections.

This referendum topic is not specific to construction – it is pertinent to all industries. The result of the referendum has the potential to fundamentally affect the composition of B.C.’s legislature and, in turn, the provincial economy. It is very important for all British Columbians to get informed and vote.

Register to vote

Online: www.Elections.bc.ca/ovr or By Phone: 1-800-661-8683

If you have not received a voting package yet, you need to submit your request to Elections BC by November 23.

Get informed

  • First Past the Post (FPTP) is British Columbia’s current voting system. In FPTP the province is divided into electoral districts represented by one Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). Voters mark their ballot for one candidate. The candidate with the most votes wins and represents the district in the legislature. The number of seats a political party gets in the legislature equals the number of its candidates who win.
  • Proportional representation is when the share of seats a political party wins in the Legislative Assembly is about the same as the party’s share of the popular vote. So, if a party receives 40 percent of the popular vote, they are likely to have about 40 percent of the seats in the legislature. Proportional representation is complex, and there are many different voting systems designed to produce proportional results. This referendum offers a choice of three proportional voting systems.

Learn more by visiting: www.Elections.bc.ca/referendum/voting-systems

Vote

You will receive a referendum voting package in the mail starting late October. Look for it, fill it out, and send it in.

Download a PDF Version of this information.

Resources

Websites

For the purpose of election finance rules, Election BC recognizes only two campaigns in the election reform referendum – one pro, and one opposed. The websites of the two official campaigns are linked below.

Media stories

Editorials and Op-Eds