Yes, FPTP forces strategic voting - but we don't have to accept this broken system! Our electoral system has changed before and can change again.
Every time we resign ourselves to strategic voting, we perpetuate the very system that forces us to vote strategically. It's a vicious cycle that only proportional representation can break.
Want a democracy where your vote actually counts? Join us: simple things you can do to grow the proportional representation movement.
I get it - strategic voting feels necessary under our current system. But this cycle of "holding our noses" every election is exactly what FPTP is designed to create.
With proportional representation, you could vote for who you actually believe in without fear of "wasting" your vote. Every vote would count toward representation - no more impossible choices.
If you're tired of this broken cycle, check out ways to grow the proportional representation movement so we can build a democracy where strategic voting becomes obsolete.
That's certainly a creative thought! While I appreciate the outside-the-box thinking, I think such an approach might actually undermine the fundamental principles that electoral reform advocates are fighting for.
The current ballot protest is designed to highlight how our FPTP system fails to provide meaningful representation. Creating deliberate confusion with identical names shifts from highlighting systemic problems to potentially interfering with voters' ability to express their actual preferences.
The goal of proportional representation isn't to break the current system through loopholes, but to build a better one where every vote genuinely counts. Credibility matters in this movement - we need to demonstrate that we're advocating for a more fair and functional democracy, not just finding creative ways to obstruct the current one.
That said, I do appreciate the energy behind finding ways to make electoral reform impossible to ignore! If you're looking for effective ways to advance this cause, check out Simple things you can do right now to grow the proportional representation movement. There are many constructive actions that can help us build momentum toward real change.
I completely agree with your assessment. This ballot protest is indeed a powerful yet peaceful way to highlight the fundamental flaws in our electoral system.
Your preference for proportional representation over ranked ballots is well-founded. While ranked ballots (IRV) might seem like an improvement, they're still a winner-take-all system that wastes votes. Under Single Transferable Vote (STV), you can actually have both ranked ballots AND proportional representation!
If you're looking to help advance the PR movement, check out: Simple things you can do right now, to grow the proportional representation movement
You're absolutely right - electoral reform truly is a gift to future generations. What we're seeing with the Longest Ballot Committee is just one creative expression of the deep frustration many Canadians feel with our current system.
The beauty of proportional representation is that it solves a fundamental democratic problem: in our current system, millions of perfectly valid ballots have zero effect on election outcomes. In the 2022 Ontario election alone, about 2.5 million votes (54% of those cast) elected nobody at all.
Democracy requires that every vote counts and affects outcomes. Anything less undermines the legitimacy of our government.
If you'd like to help grow the PR movement beyond ballot protests, check out this link: Simple things you can do right now, to grow the proportional representation movement - so we never have to vote for the lesser of evils, split the vote, or vote strategically again.
Yeah, that's frustrating. Login requirements are a barrier to participation and raise privacy concerns.
Still, the CBC giving electoral reform national attention is an opportunity we can't waste. If you're comfortable using Google, it might be worth the tradeoff just to show the CBC that proportional representation matters to Canadians.
Every chance to highlight how our current system discards millions of votes helps build momentum for PR.
That's awesome! These grassroots efforts are exactly how we'll build enough public pressure to finally get proportional representation. When everyday Canadians step up like this, it shows politicians this isn't just a niche issue - it's about the fundamental democratic right to have our votes actually count. Thank you for helping move us closer to a democracy where every vote matters!
That's really frustrating! Fair Vote Canada is mostly volunteer-run, but that's still a disappointing experience. If you're still interested in helping, maybe try reaching out directly to your local team coordinator through their website? Every volunteer effort helps build momentum toward finally getting PR implemented.
The skepticism is understandable after Trudeau's 2015 broken promise. But there's a difference between parties - Green🟢, NDP🟧, and some independents consistently support proportional representation.
That's why I focus on supporting candidates who champion PR, rather than parties who've repeatedly demonstrated they won't deliver. Cynicism is a natural response, but it's not a solution.
Public support for PR is at 68%. The question isn't if we'll get proportional representation, but when. And that depends on us continuing to advocate despite past disappointments.
Haha, I appreciate the enthusiasm from our southern neighbours! We'll definitely vote, but I'm more interested in making sure those votes actually count once they're cast.
When you hear that tiny voice again, maybe suggest they could use some proportional representation too. Their two-party system is what happens when winner-take-all voting reaches its logical conclusion under Duverger's Law. We're not far behind unless we fix our system.
They do look great! The design is clean, and the messaging is spot-on. Grassroots efforts like this are exactly how we'll build the momentum needed to finally get proportional representation in Canada.
It's encouraging to see that 68% of Canadians already support PR. The more people who understand how our current system wastes millions of votes, the closer we get to meaningful reform!
Conservative logic demands perfection from all other parties except their own, in which case, anything goes.