Fair Vote Canada is a national citizens’ campaign for
proportional representation (PR).
What is first-past-the-post?
First-past-the-post is a winner-take-all voting system that can deliver one party all the power with 39% of the vote. With first-past-the-post, most voters elect no one.
What is proportional representation?
Proportional representation is the principle that 40% of the vote should equal about 40% of the seats. With proportional representation, almost every vote counts.
Get Involved with Fair Vote Canada
Learn what motivated others to help and get involved in the movement for proportional representation.
What is first-past-the-post?
First-past-the-post is a winner-take-all voting system that can deliver one party all the power with 39% of the vote. With first-past-the-post, most voters elect no one.
What is proportional representation?
Proportional representation is the principle that 40% of the vote should equal about 40% of the seats. With proportional representation, almost every vote counts.
Get Involved with Fair Vote Canada
Learn what motivated others to help and get involved in the movement for proportional representation.
First-past-the-post delivers us closer to a two-party system
The results of this election demonstrate, once again, that Canada’s archaic voting system is failing voters. First-past-the-post has pushed us closer than ever towards a two-party system.
National poll shows strong support for proportional representation
68% of Canadians support moving to proportional representation, with only 19% opposed and 13% unsure
When asked if they would like the future Prime Minister to support proportional representation, 62% said yes, 16% no, and 22% were unsure.
PCs form a “majority” government with 43% of the vote
Only 43% of Ontario voters supported the PCs, yet the voting system has handed Doug Ford’s PCs 64.5 % of the seats and 100% of the power.
Winner-take-all ranked ballots in single members ridings are no solution
Winner-take-all ranked ballots deliver results just as bad – or even worse – than first-past-the-post. This system can exaggerate false majorities, giving a party with 40% of the vote 70% of the seats. It can shut other parties out almost entirely, pushing us closer to a two-party system. Research shows that winner-take-all ranked ballot do nothing to reduce political polarization. (Note: ranked ballots can work very well as part of a proportional system!)
