Why seat counts never match the popular vote

[Locutus]

In this occasional feature, the National Post tells you everything you need to know about a complicated issue. Today, Charles Lewis dwells on the differences between popular vote and seat count in three provincial elections this week:



What the #!%*?: Why seat counts never match the popular vote | News | National Post

 

[Tonington]

Because we don't have proportional representation...that's why. It would be foolish to expect seat counts to reflect popular vote under our system. Anyone who can vote who needed this explained to them is lacking grey where it counts...

 

[gerryh]

Because we don't have proportional representation...that's why. It would be foolish to expect seat counts to reflect popular vote under our system. Anyone who can vote who needed this explained to them is lacking grey where it counts...

Tonington, we have morons out there thinking that they can actually vote for the Premier or Prime Minister. They really should have paid more attention in Grade 10 Social Studies.

 

[Tonington]

Tonington, we have morons out there thinking that they can actually vote for the Premier or Prime Minister. They really should have paid more attention in Grade 10 Social Studies.

I think those people probably ought to have paid attention in a lot of other classes as well. Not to mention non-academic learning as well....

 

[taxslave]

Tonington, we have morons out there thinking that they can actually vote for the Premier or Prime Minister. They really should have paid more attention in Grade 10 Social Studies.

Technically you are right but there are many on the left that think otherwise, especially in B.C. Every time there is an article about Christie Clark in the paper some leftard will make a stupid comment about how she was not elected by the people but by Liberal insiders. And lots do vote "for the leader or for the party" in that they vote for the local candidate that belongs to the same party as the leader they want in.

SEat count can never match popular vote simply because of the disparity in the number of people in all the various ridings.

 

[WLDB]

Technically you are right but there are many on the left that think otherwise, especially in B.C. Every time there is an article about Christie Clark in the paper some leftard will make a stupid comment about how she was not elected by the people but by Liberal insiders. And lots do vote "for the leader or for the party" in that they vote for the local candidate that belongs to the same party as the leader they want in.

They could've gotten away with that when she didn't have a seat but was still technically Premier. That would've annoyed me too. The Premier or Prime Minister should at the very least have a seat in the legislature. That problem is not without precedent. Mackenzie King remained Prime Minister for a time even when he didn't have a seat in the House of Commons.

But yes, the system needs reform. In this case it'd give the edge to the Progressive Conservatives here, but that's fine. I still think electoral reform is needed.