Referendum Voting Information

The referendum on electoral reform will take place in conjunction with the provincial general election on May 17, 2005.

The referendum is a province-wide vote on whether to retain our existing voting system or change to a different system recommended by the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform.

The referendum question is:

 

ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE? In order to vote in the referendum, you must be registered as a voter with Elections BC. To register, contact Elections BC: Web: www.elections.bc.ca E-mail: electionsbc@elections.bc.ca Phone: 1-800-661-8683 / TTY 1-888-456-5448

Why are we having this referendum now?
Following the 2001 election, the government created a Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform to consider all possible models for electing MLAs. The Assembly was an independent group of citizens who were selected at random from the voters' list and asked if they wished to be a member of the Assembly.

When it created the Citizens' Assembly, government also announced that if the Assembly recommended a different voting system from our current system, that question would be put to all voters in a province-wide referendum at the same time as the May 2005 election.

How do I vote?
Voting in the referendum takes place at the same time and place as voting in the provincial general election. Referendum ballots will be provided at the same time as election ballots. You must be a registered voter to vote in the referendum. For more information on voting or voter registration, visit Elections BC.

Do I have to vote in the election to vote in the referendum?
No. Voters may choose to vote in the referendum, or the election, or both.

What level of approval is needed for the referendum to pass?
For the referendum to be considered binding, the approval level must be:

•	At least 60% of the total votes province-wide, and
•	More than 50% of the votes in at least 48 of the province's 79 electoral districts.

Both of these thresholds must be met for the referendum to pass.

Why is this level of approval needed?
When embarking on this process, the government decided that to change our electoral system would be a major shift in how our democracy functions, so a higher level of approval should apply. This level requires more than a bare majority, and it requires approval in different regions of the province.

If it passes, when would the new electoral system be in place?
The new system would take effect for the next scheduled provincial general election in May 2009.

What is the government's position on the referendum question?
The provincial government is remaining neutral on this question. It is for voters to decide.

Is the Referendum Information Office part of the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform?
No. The Referendum Information Office has been created within the Ministry of Attorney General with a mandate to provide objective information to voters about the proposed BC-STV system and our current electoral system. The Citizens' Assembly completed its work with the release of its report, in which it recommends BC-STV.