FINAL VERSION – 21 Jan 2006
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Important:
DemocraticSPACE does not endorse strategic voting (i.e. where voters cast their ballot for their second choice party to prevent a less favourable party from winning). We believe that Canada should explore options of adding an element of proportionality into our electoral system to ensure fair and accurate representation in parliament. See “Making Every Vote Count: Towards Fair Representation in the Canadian Parliament” (756kb PDF). However, strategic voting happens in Canada. DemocraticSPACE.com believes that it is better to make informed choices than misinformed choices. Therefore, this guide is meant to help voters who are thinking of voting strategically.
NDP STRATEGIC VOTING GUIDE
In order for a riding to qualify for strategic voting, we feel 3 conditions must be met:
1. It must be a close 2-way race (i.e. the two other parties must be within 5%)
2. The NDP chances of winning riding are remote (i.e. NDP support < 25%)
3. Small number of NDP votes will make a difference (i.e. < 1 in 3 voters).
Strategic voting might be effective in only 35 ridings -- 11% of the ridings. Strategic voting will not be effective in the remaining 89% or 273 ridings. These are ridings where the NDP cannot win, but where your vote could elect your second choice candidate. The 35 ridings are (how many NDP strategic votes needed to impact result is given):
1. ST. CATHARINES (ON) – 1 IN 150
2. PETERBOROUGH (ON) – 1 IN 35
3. BRAMALEA-GORE-MALTON (ON) – 1 IN 35
4. WEST NOVA (NS) – 1 IN 20
5. WINNIPEG SOUTH CENTRE (MB) – 1 IN 12
6. SAINT JOHN (NB) – 1 IN 12
7. OTTAWA SOUTH (ON) – 1 IN 10
8. MIRAMICHI (NB) – 1 IN 7
9. BURLINGTON (ON) – 1 IN 6
10. OUTREMONT (QC) – 1 IN 6
11. ETOBICOKE-LAKESHORE (ON) – 1 IN 5
12. NORTHUMBERLAND-QUINTE WEST (ON) – 1 IN 5
13. BRAMPTON WEST (ON) – 1 IN 5
14. WINNIPEG SOUTH (MB) – 1 IN 5
15. OTTAWA-ORLEANS (ON) – 1 IN 4
16. KITCHENER-CONESTOGA (ON) – 1 IN 4
17. FREDERICTON (NB) – 1 IN 4
18. BRANT (ON ) – 1 IN 4
19. HALTON (ON) – 1 IN 4
20. MISSISSAUGA-STREETSVILLE (ON) – 1 IN 4
21. MISSISSAUGA SOUTH (ON) – 1 IN 4
22. BOURASSA (QC) – 1 IN 4
23. PONTIAC (QC) – 1 IN 4
24. BROSSARD-LA PRAIRIE (QC) – 1 IN 4
25. WEST VANCOUVER-SUNSHINE COAST (BC) – 1 IN 4
26. NORTH VANCOUVER (BC) – 1 IN 4
27. TOBIQUE-MACTAQUAC (NB) – 1 IN 4
28. PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA (ON) – 1 IN 3
29. LONDON NORTH CENTRE (ON) – 1 IN 3
30. MISSISSAUGA-ERINDALE (ON) – 1 IN 3
31. EDMONTON CENTRE (AB) – 1 IN 3
32. REGINA-LUMSDEN-LAKE CENTRE (SK) – 1 IN 3
33. SAINT BONIFACE (MB) – 1 IN 3
34. KINGS-HANTS (NS) – 1 IN 3
35. AVALON (NL) – 1 IN 3
Select your province, then find your riding.
| ALBERTA | NUNAVUT | ||
| BRITISH COLUMBIA | ONTARIO | ||
| MANITOBA | PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND | ||
| NEW BRUNSWICK | QUEBEC | ||
| NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR | SASKATCHEWAN | ||
| NOVA SCOTIA | YUKON | ||
| NORTHWEST TERRITORIES |

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