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Change vote system in B.C., Greens say – Metro US

Change vote system in B.C., Greens say

More women and minorities would be elected if the province switches to a Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, the B.C. Green party said yesterday.

A second referendum on electoral reform will be held in conjunction with the provincial election May 12.

In the first referendum in 2005, supporters of STV were 2.3 per cent short of the required 60 per cent of the popular vote for the result to be binding.

Green deputy leader Damian Kettlewell said that in Western Australia women hold 47 per cent of the legislative council seats under an STV system.

In the legislative assembly, where candidates are elected using the first-past-the-post method, they only hold 20 per cent of the seats.

“Voters have more choice under a proportional system,” Kettlewell said.