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The Outcome
There are 107 members of the Legislative Assembly to be elected. All 107 members are elected province-wide. The province is one riding. |
How Do You Vote?
Each party presents a list of candidates. You vote for one of the parties. By doing so, you are actually voting for the set of candidates that the party presents. |
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Example
There are 100 voters, 5 seats, and 5 parties called A, B, C, D and E. A receives 35 votes, B receives 30 votes, C receives 20 votes, D receives 10 votes, E receives 5 votes.
The number of votes each party received is divided first by 1, then by 2, 3, 4 and 5. The number of times the votes are divided is the same as the number of seats. The 5 highest results from this division are identified. This determines which parties will be given seats. In this example, the five highest numbers are 35, 30, 20, 17.5 and 15. Consequently, A and B each receive 2 seats and C receives 1 seat. The top two candidates in Party A and B’s lists, and the top candidate of party C’s list, are elected. |
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How Are the Votes Counted?
A formula is used to distribute seats so that parties receive a percentage of seats that is about the same as their percentage of votes. One widely used formula is the d’Hondt formula. The 107 seats are distributed to the parties on the basis of the d’Hondt formula. The candidates are awarded seats in the order of priority decided by the party. |
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Advantages
Parties receive a percentage of seats that is about the same as their percentage of votes. There are more parties in a PR system, which allows for more opinions to be heard. Because parties present lists of candidates, it is easier to have more women and minorities elected. |
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Disadvantages
It is harder to form a one party majority government in a PR system. Extremist parties can get seats more easily in PR systems. There is no direct link between a given voter and a given representative. |
Note : There are many forms of PR. The example presented here refers to national PR with a closed list and the d’Hondt formula.