As part of a campaign promise made by the governing BC NDP and BC Green parties, a mail-in referendum is being held on whether to change from BC's current "first past the post" electoral system. The proposed change is to a proportional representation system where the final number of seats a party receives corresponds with their popular vote across the province. The referendum is comprised of two questions:

1. The first question asks if we should keep the current First Past the Post voting system or move to a system of proportional representation.
2. The second question asks voters to rank three proportional systems: Dual Member Proportional (DMP), Mixed Member Proportional (MMP), and Rural-Urban Proportional (RUP).

All of the three proposed systems include: direct election of representatives in ridings, a way to balance out the total numbers to get proportional results, and protections to reduce the possibility of fringe extremist parties getting seats. Proportional representation type electoral systems are used in more than 80 countries, including Australia, Argentina, Germany, and Ireland. More information is available at:

• https://elections.bc.ca/referendum/what-are-we-voting-on/
• https://www.fairvote.ca/bc-pr-systems/
• http://voteprbc.ca/get-informed/

Who can vote and how to register:

Register to vote in the referendum here. You can vote if you are:

• a Canadian citizen, and
• 18 years or older as of November 30, 2018, and
• a resident of BC for at least six months immediately before November 30, 2018.

Important dates:

• October 22 - November 3
  • Voting period (Voting packages are distributed and returned)
• October 22 - November 2
  • Voting packages mailed to registered voters
• November 5
  • Referendum Service Offices open
• November 3 - November 23
  • Voters can ask for a voting package
• 11:59 pm, Friday, November 23
  • Deadline to ask for a voting package
• 4:30 pm, Friday, November 30
  • Elections BC ballot reception deadline