Vancouver, B.C. – The numbers are in and British Columbia voters are

Vancouver, B.C. – The numbers are in and British Columbia voters are giving a big thumbs up to electoral reform with 65 per cent saying they will vote for BC-STV (Single Transferable Vote) in the upcoming referendum on May 12. That is the top line result of a major survey conducted by Angus Reid Strategies. Support for a new way of electing MLAs is particularly strong among younger voters – those 18 to 34 – at 74 percent.”The survey results indicate that British Columbians and particularly younger voters are ready to embrace a new electoral system in British Columbia,” said Catherine Rogers, vice president, Angus Reid Strategies. “A large majority are looking for electoral change and want an electoral system that is fair and that elects MLAs who are more accountable to them.”It should be no surprise that youth are embracing election reform. Political association and political awareness is growing all over the World Wide Web. Here, just south of BC, in Washington, local and state elections are usually poorly attended and most youth cannot name their local representative. This is a reflection on the fossils, relics, and fogies running elections in Washington. They think you drive turnout by hanging posters or handing out fliers to remind people to vote.Turnout is so low because most elections are uncontested or uncompetitive. If STV passes in British Columbia, ALL the seats for the provincial legislature will be competitive. And it’s competitive elections that drive turnout – not stock, government public relation campaigns aimed at youth!