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B.C.’s provincial election campaign officially gets under way on Tuesday, April 14, with the vote set for May 12. One of the issues that rabble.ca will be following is the referendum question on electoral reform in the province.

The proposed system, Single Transferable Vote (STV), won nearly 58 per cent support last election, in 2005, but was not implemented because a 60 per cent threshold is required. 2009 could prove second time lucky for STV, at least if social media stats are any indication.

With a month to go before the vote, electoral reform advocates have a staggering lead on Facebook: As of today, Yes for BC-STV has over 4,600 members, while No for BC-STV has only 164 faithful members. Only the B.C. Greens, as a party, have officially endorsed the ‘Yes’ side, but the campaign is picking up supporters from across the political spectrum. Occasional rabble.ca contributor and writer/comedian Charlie Demers explains the proposed system’s appeal in a short segment from his Vancouver CityTV show ‘The List.’

Proponents of electoral reform from right across the country should have their eyes on B.C. over the next month.

Derrick O'Keefe

Derrick O'Keefe

Derrick O'Keefe is a writer in Vancouver, B.C. He served as rabble.ca's editor from 2012 to 2013 and from 2008 to 2009.