Quick Overview of Fair Voting Systems

Fair voting systems can be set up in many different ways. The 80-plus countries using these systems have developed many variations to fit their own political and geographic cultures. However, most fair voting systems fall within these three categories.

• List systems
• Mixed member proportional systems
• Single transferrable vote

Myths and facts about fair voting

Those who support the status quo usually spend more time attacking reform alternatives than actually defending the status quo. To learn more, read: Myths and Facts About Fair Voting.

More Details on Fair Voting Systems

For those who wish to delve into more details, we recommend these sites:

• Mt. Holyoke College proportional representation library
• British Columbia Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform
• Ontario Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform
• Ace Project
• Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)
• Electoral System Design: The New International IDEA Handbook
• IDEA: Case studies of 14 countries

For a comprehensive overview of the issue, we recommend Dr. Dennis Pilon's book: The Politics of Voting: Reforming Canada's Electoral System. Click here for more detail on the book content and ordering.