A new poll from Angus Reid Strategies suggests that British Columbians favour BC-STV – but not enough to pass it on May 12.
The online survey of 800 British Columbians found 53 per cent of respondents favour switching to BC-STV.
To pass, the Single Transferable Ballot option requires at least 60 per cent of the total votes cast in the province-wide referendum as well as more than 50 per cent of the votes cast in at least 51 of B.C.’s 85 electoral districts.
In the Reid survey, conducted for CTV, 47 per cent of respondents said they prefer keeping the current First Past the Post electoral system.
Poll participants were asked the same question that will appear on the referendum ballot:
“Which electoral system should British Columbia use to elect members to the provincial Legislative Assembly?
“- The existing electoral system (First-Past-the-Post)
[or]
“- The single transferable vote electoral system (BC-STV) proposed by the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform”
Perhaps surprisingly given the lack of coverage the STV debate has been given in the media, 45 per cent of respondents said they are “very aware” of the coming referendum.
Thirty-eight per cent said they are “moderately aware” of the referendum and 17 per cent were “not aware at all.”
The poll was conducted April 29 and 30.
Reid cites a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20 for a sample of this size. However, other pollsters and polling experts maintain that, for methodological reasons, it is not proper to quote a margin of error for online polls such as this one.
Tom Barrett reports for The Tyee.
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Wilf Day
3 years ago
Again?
Will BC voters say, once again, that they like BC-STV better than they like any one party, yet leave the issue undecided?
Several polls have shown that the more voters know about BC-STV, the more they like it. Tell your friends to go to
http://stv.ca/how-does-stv-work
ReeferMadness
3 years ago
Tragic
If we lose this, it will be due to a disinformation campaign waged primarily by power brokers.
cocean
3 years ago
Look at the survey
There are some interesting stats. The demographic which is highest in favour of BC-STV are those whose annual household income falls below $50,000. Doesn't surprise me at all. The poor, particularly, are largely ignored in this province. If we want to be heard, then we must go to the polls to cast our vote for BC-STV.