If we had ranked ballot, Liberals would’ve earned 3 of 4 by-elections

Last night, constituents of Brandon–Souris in Manitoba voted for change, but got stuck with the same old same old.

Fifty-five percent voted for a center-left candidate. But because we have a horse race instead of a democracy, a 44% minority overruled the 55% majority.

Imagine the freedom

Just image if we elected MPs the way we elect party leaders: with the ranked ballot. This is the version of voting reform Justin Trudeau proposes. Yesterday’s distorted election result would’ve merely been the outcome of the first round.

With ranked ballot voting the last-placed candidate is removed each round. People’s alternative votes are then distributed to other candidates. This process continues until one candidate wins with a majority.

Here’s a rough simuluation of how the election would’ve turned out under PV ranked ballot:

Ranked ballot: 1st round

Party	Candidate	Alt Votes	Votes	Vote %
CPC	L Maguire	–	12,205	44.1%
Liberal	R Dinsdale	–	11,814	42.7%
NDP	C Szczepanski	–	2037	7.4%
Green	D Neufeld	–	1354	4.9%

2nd round: instant runoff vote

Party	Candidate	Alt Votes	Votes	Vote %
Liberal	R Dinsdale	+542	12,356	44.6%
CPC	L Maguire	–	12,205	44.1%
NDP	C Szczepanski	+812	2849	10.3%

3rd round: instant runoff vote

Party	Candidate	Alt Votes	Votes	Vote %
Liberal	R Dinsdale	+2846	15,202	54.9%
CPC	L Maguire	–	12,205	44.1%

Conclusion

The ranked ballot doesn’t just benefit the Liberals. It would’ve allowed the NDP to form a minority government with Liberal support back in 2011.

It’s time Canadians upgraded to a democratic voting system like 91% of developed countries have done. There’s absolutely no reason why voters should get stuck with politicians and governments they don’t want and didn’t vote for.