Block Vote

How It Works:

  • There are fewer, or possibly only one, electoral districts, within which multiple candidates are elected.

How You Vote:

  • You vote for multiple candidates, up to the number of designated seats in your district.
  • The candidates with the highest number of votes win the district and fill that designated number of seats.
  • This system is similar to Yukon municipal elections, except that territorial candidates are associated with political parties.

What Should I Consider:

  • As there may be as few as one electoral district, the elected candidates may not accurately represent the variety of communities and populations of the Yukon.
  • Candidates run “at large”, meaning they are not only in competition with candidates from other parties, but also their own party. This can result in disproportionate representation of parties compared to the popular vote.
    • Example: In an electoral district, Candidate A (Party A) receives 20 000 votes, the most of any candidate. 
    • Candidates B through G (Party A) split the vote, each receiving less than 400 votes.
    • This means that if Party B and C’s candidates each receive 401 votes, Party A would end up with only one seat, despite having a plurality or majority of the popular vote.

 

For more information on the electoral system options for Yukon, please see the report prepared by Keith Archer.

 

Special Committee on Electoral Reform