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ALTERNATIVE VOTIN

HE SYSTEM of alternative
voting, being used for the
first time in B.C. in the coming
elections June 12, is proving
very confusing to many voters,
despite the many ‘‘explanations’’

‘issued by the provincial govern-

ment in the form of brochures
and newspaper advertisements.

Some of the questions and
answers, aS prepared by govern-
ment publicity men, read like
this:

Q. That is meant by alter-
native voting?

A.
ential voting.

Q.— What is preferential vot-
ing?

A.—Any form of voting which
allows the voter more than one
choice in the marking of his
ballot. :

Q.— What is the purpose of
preferential voting?

A.—To prevent the election of
a candidate on a minority vote.

Q.—Willsit apply in al] elec-
toral districts, and, if so, how?

A.— Alternative voting will
apply in every electoral district
in the province, whether a single
member district or a multi-mem-
ber district. In those districts
electing more than one member,

the voter will use as many bal-
lots as there are members to be
elected, such ballots being of
distinctive colors and identified
with the letters A. B and C. The
names of candidates will be
placed on the respective ballots
in accordance with the provi-
sions of the Provincial Elections
Act, and the voter in a multi-
member electoral district will
vote in exactly the same manner
as a voter in a single-member
district, only that he will be
given more than one ballot.
Q.—How would a voter mark

his ballot under alternative vot-
ing?

A.—He would mark his ballot -

in the order of his preference
by signifying with the figure 1
his first choice, the figure 2 his
second choice, and so on.

Q.—May a voter vote for one
candidate only—in other words,
“yhump’’?

A.— Yes.

Q.— Will a voter’s ballot be

rejected if he uses an X instead
of the figure 1?

A.—No. Provision has been
made_ to allow either the use
of an X or the figure 1 to de-
note the voter’s first .choice or

preference. The voter, however, '

should accustom himself to the
use of figures.

Q.—If a ballot is marked both
with an X and the figure 1, is
it a valid ballot?

A.—No., It would not be pos-
\

This picture shows the LPP picketing the Legislature for lower BCHIS premiums
and abolition of co-insurance.

While other political parties TALKED the LPP ACTED —
the interests of the people of B.C.

FOR action on the people’s needs, support the LPP program for
people’s unity to secure:

Peace and Disarmament.
Jobs through Peaceful Trade.
Heavier Taxation of monopolies.
Social Security for the people.
A Fair Deal for farmers.

.

(] I enclose my donation of §...........- oy aeeete towards the LPP Election Fund
(] I would like further in formation on the LPP. election. program

PUT ET EES SRI Ee CSSE 2 ange beens Se.tonacen cas ange gecee armies pene re toe ol.
Clip and mail to: R. Ross, Treas., LPP Election Fund, 501 Ford Bldg., Vancouver

sible to determine for whom the
voter intended to vote.

Q.—Would a ballot upon
which an X was used in place
of the figure 1, where a number

of~*candidates were running, be
allowed?

A.—Yes. A ballot is valid un-
til it cannot be dealt with fur-
ther. In explanation of this, sup-
pose there were five candidates
and the ballot was marked X
for first choice then 2, 8, 3, 4, 5,
it would be counted on the first
and second count but would be
rejected on the third count be-
cause the ballot contained two
3’s and it would not be known
which candidate was the voter’s

' third choice.

Q.—How are ballots counted
in alternative voting? j

A.—The counting of the bal-
lots will be dealt with in the
same way in both single and
multi-member districts, except
that in multi-member districts
the ballots will be sorted first
in order of their color. At the
close of the polls. the Deputy
Returning Officers complete and
verify the count of the first
preference votes, and if any can-
didate has -an absolute majority,

he is declared elected. If no.

candidate has an absolute ma-
jority, then the Returning Of-
ficer proceeds to count the sec-
ond-preference votes, after di-
viding the ballots of the candi-
date with the lowest number of
first choices among the other
candidates according to second
choices as indicated on these bal-
lots. If the count of the second-
choice ballots fails to give any
candidate the required majority,
the process is' repeated until an
absolute majority is obtained by
one of the candidates. —

@
Q.—What is meant by the
term “absolute majority’?

A.—When a candidate at any
count has one vote more than
the total number of votes ob-
tained by all his opponents, he
will have an absolute majority,

Q.—Is_ it necessary to wait
three weeks after polling-day

before holding the final count?

A.—Yes. This has been neces-
sary for many years under the
Provincial Elections Act, to al-

low time for-absentee ballots t?
reach the various Returning of-
ficers from all the polling-st@
tions scattered throughout the
province, Under alternative vor
ing all ballots must be in th?
hands of the Returning Officer
before he can complete the count
of the first-preference vote, and
be in a position to proceed with
the counting of the second
choice and any subsequent
-choice votes, if such be neces
sary,
e

Liberals and Conservatives a!
against the “plump” vote, )&
cause they believe that in most

cases their second-choice vote®
will go to each other,

What about progressive vor
ers? Should they “plump” fo!
LPP, Independent or Labor Re?”
resentation Committee candi
dates, or should they give second
and third choice votes?

This question cannot be 2
swered in the affirmative or De”
ative, for conditions will alte
“cases. In certain circumstance’
where there is only one progte™
sive candidate, a “plump” vote 8
the logical answer, No use wast
ing a vote on a reactionary ca?”
didate, if you cannot find a prek
erence for any candidate after
having cast your first choice.

In some cases, however, PO
gressive voters will want! to give
their second-choice vote to 0@
of the other candidates on th?
ballot, perhaps a candidate who
has personally taken a 80
stand on the peace question, ie
on matters affecting labor, eve
though his party leaders follo¥
a different policy.

n t
for

The question of whe
“plump” and when to vote
both a first and second oa
and conceivably even a pir’
should be discussed in each con
stituency by election worker!
for progressive candidates,
that canvasserg will be able
give advice to other voters
the riding.

to

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PACIFIO TRIBUNE — MAY 30, 1952 — PAGE #