Learn

The idea behind BC-STV is very simple – as many voters as possible deserve an elected representative of their choice. Since two neighbours may have different political views, the only way both can have an MLA is if multiple MLAs represent the same area.

By ranking your choices and with several seats to fill, BC-STV gives over 80% of voters an MLA of their choice. By counting so many votes BC-STV ensures that we get fair and accurate results in the legislature. By making local contests more competitive, voters get independent-minded MLAs who can champion their communities.

With BC-STV we will be able to hold our government and our local representatives accountable.

When you vote, you rank your favourite candidates in order of preference. You can rank as many or as few as you want. They can all be from one party, or be from several parties or independents. It is your choice. Parties may run more than one candidate.

Your region will have the same number of MLAs as it does currently and there will still be 85 MLAs across BC.

Elections BC start by counting all first choices. Each candidate needs a minimum number of votes to get elected.

Only if your first choice has been elected and doesn’t need your entire vote or if they have so few votes that they can’t win does your next choice count. Think of your vote like a dollar which you give to your first choice. If your first choice only needs $.90, you still have a dime to go to your second choice. Or, if your district hasn’t elected enough MLAs yet, the last placed candidate is eliminated. If you chose this candidate, your entire $1.00 goes to your next choice.

You will see from the results that over 80% of voters will have an MLA that they chose. Your vote may have even helped elect two of your choices.

Click here to see some simple analogies of how STV works.

This animation was produced by the BC Citizens' Assembly. While "transferable votes" may be new to many Canadians, other countries find it easy to use.

Some notes:

When surplus votes are counted, a portion of each vote is transferred. If each voter only requires $0.90 of dollar to elect their first choice, $0.10 of a voters vote goes to their second choice. This ensures each candidate or party gets its fair share.

After the votes are cast, Elections BC will publish the results. Your vote will only go to candidates you rank, and will go to your first choice unless they are eliminated.

---

Some people prefer a simple simple flow chart to see how votes are counted:

BC-STV has been used around the world for nearly 100 years, and is the second most common electoral system in English speaking countries. It has been used in Ireland and Australia for nearly 90 years, and recently Scotland and Northern Island has switched over to it. Voters there find it easy to use and elections are conducted fairly. STV will introduce some new features in elections:

• Most parties will run a ‘slate’ of candidates - usually one more candidate than the party thinks will get elected.
• Since most votes count, parties need to maximize their appeal with voters. They will try to run a slate that represents the whole district, both in terms of geography and diversity.
• In a 4 seat district you’d expect to see 10-14 candidates.
• With BC-STV you have the final choice on which candidate best represents your preferred party or parties.
• You rank the candidates 1-2-3. You can rank as many or as few as you want. They can all be from one party, or be from several parties or independents. It is your choice.

• The province is divided into 20 districts, each electing between two to seven MLAs based on population.
• There are still 85 MLAs from across the province.
• Each region still has the same number of MLAs as they do now; they are just organized in groups to give more people representation.
• Since so many more votes are counted, BC-STV ensures that MLAs will come from around the district rather from the largest centre as they do now.
• Each district will likely elect at least one candidate from the governing party and one from the opposition. Every region will have somebody at the cabinet table. Most voters will have an MLA that represents their point of view.

Find out more about how BC-STV will give a voice to your community. (download .pdf) (.pdf)

1. After the polls close, Elections BC looks at how many people voted in that district to determine the ‘quota’. This is the number of votes that a candidate needs in order to get elected.

   If you have four seats to fill, the quota is the minimum number of votes that only four candidates can earn. So for example, if you had 100 votes, 5 candidates could earn 20 votes each, but only four candidates could earn 21 votes. Therefore, 21 votes would be the quota.

   We use simple math to make sure as many voters as possible get an MLA, political scientists call this the "droop quota".

   

   In most* districts the quota will be around 20,000 votes. That means most MLAs will be elected with equivalent support.

   *There are a few exceptions with both BC-STV and First Past the Post. The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that the least populated regions, such as in the North and the Kootenays, must be treated as exceptional circumstances – there are fewer voters in these regions, and therefore less votes are required to elect an MLA.

2. Elections BC will then count everybody’s first choice.
3. Any candidate who has met the quota is declared elected.
4. From a voters perspective the most important thing is that they get their first choice elected. Only once that has happened, or if that can’t possibly happen, does your vote get transferred to your next choice.
   Think of your vote as a dollar. If the candidate you vote for only needs $0.90 of your vote, you still have a dime to give to your second candidate. If your district hasn’t elected enough MLAs yet the last placed candidate is eliminated. If you chose this candidate, your entire $1.00 goes to your next choice.
5. The process is repeated until all seats are filled.
6. BC-STV can be counted by hand, however for speed, vote counting machines will probably be used to read the paper ballots just like they are in many municipal elections. We will always have the paper ballots if a recount is necessary, as happens sometimes.
7. On the day after the election voters will see which of their choices were elected. They will know exactly how much of their vote was needed to elect their top choice and how much of their vote was left over to help their next choices.

You can see the election maps.