MMP referendum - some numbers

[theorangemonkey]

A few simple calculations I did of the results of the last Ontario election.  Thought they might be of some interest to people here, with the referendum on Mixed Member Proportional voting that's coming up in October.

PartySeats WonVotes ReceivedPercent of SeatsPercent of VoteDisparity
(seats/vote)Liberals722,090,001
69.9%46.47%+23.4%PC241,559,18123.3

Comments

[epi_lj]

I have to admit that the PCs getting more seats might be enough to change my mind on this! ;)

[theorangemonkey]

That is a valid concern! Overall I think that it's still worth it, though :o)

[damabupuk]

I hate election time. I know who I want in, but I know it's not likely for them to do so. It often feels like really we're a two-party system in denial. I'm also divided about the proportional representation. On the one hand, votes equalling voice would be great, but the succession of minority parties this has the potential to create could mean that nothing meaningful will a)ever get done, and b)last for an appreciable length of time.

[theorangemonkey]

I worry that we're headed towards a two-party system; I know that the media (well, the private media companies, anyways) definitely have been trying to sell the elections that way for the past while. I think that moving towards an MMP system could help alleviate that - if the Greens and NDP together represent almost 20% of the seats, then they will have a real voice, regardless of whether or not the media tries to ostracize them.

Also, think about minority governments this way - 'nothing meaningful' getting done usually means that they can't screw things up that badly ;o)