Understanding Canada's Electoral System and Voting Process

Electoral System: Single-Member Plurality (SMP/FPTP)

The candidate with the most votes in a riding wins the seat in the House of Commons, even if the majority of constituents did not vote for them.

Pros

• Easily creates single-party governments.
• Excludes extremist parties from being elected to the House.
• Simple to use and understand; a valid vote only requires one mark beside a name.

Cons

• Not entirely up to democratic standards, as FPTP allows candidates to win with a plurality, not a majority. Thus, the majority often does not rule.
• Two candidates in different ridings can earn the same percentage of the vote, yet one may win while the other loses.
• Encourages tactical or strategic voting.

Who Can Vote?

Eligibility includes citizens aged 18 and older, prisoners, the mentally ill, and those living abroad. It is difficult for courts to deny the right to vote, as it is governed by Section 3 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Elections

While the Harper government passed legislation for a fixed election date every four years, this does not change the Governor General's ability to call an election at the advice of the Prime Minister.

• Voter Turnout: Highest was 79.4% in 1958; lowest was 58.8% in 2008.
• National Dialogue: Elections offer a chance for leadership debates and national consensus building.
• Structure: There are 338 "mini-elections" across the country.
• Elections Canada: This agency does not set the rules; it helps administer them.

Representative Democracy

Because there are too many citizens to directly discuss every issue, we elect representatives to do so on our behalf. Representative democracy ensures that different political and social views can be expressed freely, contributing to political stability and social cohesiveness.

Seat Distribution

A) Senatorial Floor

A 1915 constitutional amendment ensures no province will have fewer MPs than it has members of the Senate. This works to the advantage of smaller provinces like PEI. Without this rule, based on population changes, PEI would only be entitled to one seat; however, it is guaranteed four seats in the House of Commons.

B) Grandfather Clause

Under the 1985 rule, no province will be granted fewer seats than it had in 1986 or the 33rd Parliament, whichever is fewer.