Following is the first of two sets of FAQs about the Single Transferable Vote, and our current voting system. FAQs are from the neutral government-sponsored referendum website at: www.gov.bc.ca/referendum_info/faq/index.html The second half will be presented next edition.

1. How many candidates would I have to vote for on a ballot under BC-STV?

For a ballot to be considered valid, at least a first preference would need to be indicated. After that, voters could rank as many candidates as they choose to support. Voters would not be required to vote for all candidates on the ballot.

2. Do all my choices count equally under BC-STV?

Everybody’s first choices would be counted at full value and assigned to candidates. After that, if a further choice is transferred from a candidate who is being dropped from the ballot, that choice is counted at the value it had when it was transferred to the candidate who is dropped. Transfers from candidates who have been elected and have a surplus of votes are transferred at a fractional value. How much that “transfer value” is worth depends upon the size of the surplus.

3. When do my second, third, etc. choices get counted?

It depends on what happens to your first-choice candidate. Your vote gets transferred to your second choice after your first choice either gets elected with a surplus of votes or receives the fewest votes and is dropped from the ballot. Further choices are activated in the same way.

4. Why is the vote-counting so complicated under BC-STV?

The Single Transferable Vote system is designed to have votes contribute, as far as possible, to electing candidates. To achieve this, it is necessary to have a mechanism for transferring votes, and portions of votes, from candidates who are elected and have a surplus of votes and from candidates who have received the fewest votes and are dropped from the ballot.

5. Would all this vote-counting be done by hand or by computer?

Elections BC, the independent office responsible for administering elections in the province, would decide the best method for counting the votes. Counting BC-STV votes by hand would take a long time, so it is possible that computers would be used to tabulate results.

6. Would we be voting using computers or paper ballots?

Paper ballots likely would still be used. Elections BC would decide on the best method for administering the voting.

7. If several MLAs get elected in a district under BC-STV, which one would be my MLA?

They all would be. Under BC-STV, each MLA would be responsible for representing all of the constituents in his or her electoral district. If you were in need of assistance from an MLA, you could choose which MLA you wished to help you.

8. Does First-Past-the-Post always give disproportional election results?

First-Past-the-Post is not designed to ensure that political parties’ share of seats match their share of the popular vote – there is often a wide variance between the two. Sometimes, however, it produces results that are fairly close to proportional.

9. Under BC-STV, would political parties’ share of seats always be exactly proportional to the popular vote they receive?

BC-STV would deliver largely proportional results but there could be some variance. As a general rule, the results in each electoral district become more proportional as the district magnitude increases. In some districts that elect two or three members the results may not be strictly proportional, and this could have an effect on the overall results.11. Does First-Past-the-Post always give us majority governments?

First-Past-the-Post does not always result in majority governments, but they are usually what happens in British Columbia. Majority governments become very likely when elections are contested between two dominant political parties.

10. What's the difference between majority, minority and coalition governments?

A majority government is when a single party wins more than 50% of the seats; assuming its caucus members vote in support of their own party, it does not need to worry about losing votes in the Legislative Assembly.

A minority government exists when no one party has a majority of seats. In order to pass legislation and other measures, that government needs the support of at least some members of other parties in the House.

A coalition government is when two or more parties join together in some kind of formal alliance. This usually involves negotiating compromises in their positions on some public issues. A coalition government typically will have cabinet ministers appointed from both parties. Assuming the two parties comprise a majority of seats in the House, the coalition can function in the same manner as a majority government.

11. Does First-Past-the-Post always give us majority governments?

First-Past-the-Post does not always result in majority governments, but they are usually what happens in British Columbia. Majority governments become very likely when elections are contested between two dominant political parties.

12. Would there always be minority governments under BC-STV?

Not necessarily. Although BC-STV, like other proportional systems, makes it less likely that any single party would win a majority of seats in the Legislative Assembly, it could still happen. It would depend on a number of factors, like how many political parties and candidates are competitive in the election. To win a majority under BC-STV, a party likely would need to win a majority of the popular vote, or close to it.

13. What would BC-STV cost?

Elections BC is the independent office responsible for administering elections in British Columbia. The information we have received from them is that, at this time, they cannot attach specific costs to administering BC-STV elections.

The major costs associated with running a provincial election are related to voting place rentals and staffing, registering voters, printing and mailing information material, and advertising. Most of these costs would remain fixed regardless of the type of voting system used.

Under BC-STV, some cost savings may result from having fewer electoral districts. On the other hand, some added investment in technology would probably be needed, such as buying or renting specialized computers and software to tabulate the voting results.

14. How would by-elections work under BC-STV?

If a single vacancy needed to be filled in an electoral district, voters would rank their choices and a process of transferring votes would occur. The quota would be 50%+1 of the overall vote.

If there is more than one vacancy to be filled at a by-election, then voting and vote-counting would take place in the same manner as at a general election.

15. Where is First-Past-the-Post used now?

First-Past-the-Post is used in a number of Commonwealth countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, and India. It is also used in the United States and a number of African, Caribbean and Pacific island countries. For an overview of the different electoral systems used around the world, visit the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

16. Where is the Single Transferable Vote system used now?

STV is used in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta, and in Australia for Senate elections as well as some state elections. It is also used in Scotland for local elections. For an overview of the different electoral systems used around the world, visit the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance online.