After very undemocratic BC election results in 1996 (party with most votes lost) & 2001 (no official opposition), the BC Provincial Legislature unanimously created the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform to find a better electoral system. Our MLAs thought that voters should do this work, not politicians.
160 ordinary, non-partisan voters were randomly selected from the Voters List to serve on the Assembly. The Assembly’s 11 month process included:
Extensive Learning: About electoral systems throughout the world.
Public Consultation: 50 public hearings & 1,603 written public submissions.
Deliberation & Recommendation: The Assembly recommended, with a 95% consensus, that British Columbians adopt the BC-STV voting system.
The Citizens’ Assembly worked on behalf of voters. Political insiders were kept out of the process. The Assembly found an electoral system which gives more power to BC’s voters.