Still undecided on electoral reform? Here's one consultant's quick review

Consultant Kevin Deveaux, a former Nova Scotia NDP MLA and parliamentary development policy adviser for the United Nations, presents the pros and cons of the five electoral systems on offer for Prince Edward Islanders.

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The province will hold a plebiscite on electoral reform Oct. 29 toNov. 7. The ballot will ask voters to rank, from top to bottom, the five choices.

1. First past the post

The first past the post methodis the current system, where the candidate with the most votes in each district wins the seat.

"Clearly one of the benefits of first past the post is you have stability," said Deveaux.

First past the post elections tend to produce majority governments, even if the winning party did not get a majority of the votes.

Deveaux points out most Island elections do result in a majority of votes for one party, but also noted 2015 was an exception, where the Liberals won just 40.8 per cent of the vote to form government.

"Maybe that system is starting to change," he said.

2. Dual-member proportional

The dual-member proportional systemis newly-designed system not yet tested.

It would create two-member districts, with one member assigned by direct election and one to make the representation in the legislature proportional to the vote, so the overall legislature would represent how everyone voted.

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Districts would double in size and that, said Deveaux, could lead to less connection between constituent and MLA.

There is also the possibility of more divisiveness within a constituency, because often two different parties would represent each district. Constituents may go to the MLA of the party they favour, which is a different kind of political culture.

"My job, whether you voted for me or not, is to work for you as a constituent You open up the possibility of that contract being changed," said Deveaux.

3. Mixed member proportional

Like DMP, this is a proportional system with more likelihood of a minority government and larger constituencies.

The makeup of the legislature would reflect the overall popular vote.

Those elected from the list are seen as not as important. That is an issue with this system.- Kevin Deveaux

Half the MLAs would be directly elected, while the other half would be elected from party lists.

Deveaux said the experience in other countries is these two different kind of MLAs are not seen to be equals.

"Those elected in constituencies are just, de facto, politically given more gravitas or more weight," he said. "Those elected from the list are seen as not as important. That is an issue with this system."

4. Preferential voting

With preferential voting, candidates in each district are ranked on every ballot, and so they are sent to the legislature with a majority of votes over several rounds of counting.

In practice this system tends to favour wins by one of the two most popular party, said Deveaux.

"You're institutionalizing the two-party system," he said.

5.FPTP plusleaders

In this first past the post plus leadersystem, districts would be retained as they are, but a seat would be added to the legislature for the leader of any party that wins more than 10 per cent of the vote.

"It reflects the reality that these leaders have a unique role," said Deveaux.

"It would create a little more diversity."

While this system is not as likely to create as many minority governments as proportional systems, it is still more likely than with one of the proportional systems.

Other resources

CBC News: What the legislature might have looked like

Elections P.E.I.: Is it time for change?

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