Results: Strategic Voting and Electoral Reform
Published on 12/29/2015
QUESTIONS
GO to COMMENTS
Comments
1.
1.
In Canada there are three major political parties, with some areas even having four. Given this, if you felt your top priority as a voter in the recent Canadian federal election was to prevent the governing party and its leader from continuing in power you likely felt compelled to vote for a party you may not necessarily support only because they had the best chance of defeating the governing party. To use one's vote for this purpose is often referred to as "strategic voting". With a two-party system like that of the US this isn't so much of an issue but regardless of your nationality do you think any electoral system which might compel you to resort to this needs to be reformed? Yes, everyone should be able to vote for their party of preference without thinking their vote is just being wasted and may inadvertently be of most benefit to a status quo they want to see changed.
31%
480 votes
No, the present traditional electoral system is the simplest and therefore likely the best since any system which involves more than 2 major parties will have its flaws and so probably include some measure of strategic voting in any case.
13%
198 votes
Undecided/Don't know
18%
289 votes
Not Applicable
38%
599 votes
2.
2.
Regardless of your nationality have you ever voted for a candidate or party you did not necessarily support just to try to prevent another candidate or party from winning -that is, voted more against something rather than for something? Yes, I've voted for the 'lesser evil' rather than spoiling my ballot or not voting at all.
26%
412 votes
No, philosophically I can only bring myself to cast my vote in support of people and ideas I actually believe in - otherwise I just spoil my ballot or do not vote at all.
26%
408 votes
Undecided/Don't know
13%
201 votes
Not Applicable
35%
545 votes
3.
3.
For Canadians: Would you like to see the present traditional electoral system changed to a system of proportional representation which would see the seats in parliament apportioned between the parties according to their respective percentage of the overall popular vote? Yes, everyone should be able to have their interests and values represented in parliament to the degree they are shared by others.
17%
266 votes
No, this likely would just lead to an endless string of unworkable minority or coalition governments.
11%
172 votes
Undecided/Don't know
16%
252 votes
Not Applicable - I'm not Canadian
56%
876 votes
COMMENTS