Just the facts on proportional representation – Cowichan Valley Citizen

• In the last 15 years there've been two referenda on electoral reform: 2005 and 2009.

• In 2005, 58 percent of voters wanted to change to the single-transferable vote system. It required 60 per cent to pass.

• In 2009 support for the STV system fell to 39 percent.

• Requests for voting packages must be submitted by midnight Nov. 23.

• Packages must be received by Elections BC by Dec. 7.

• They can be returned by mail or in person at a Referndum Service Office of the BC Center.

• Duncan's only drop-off location is the service BC Center at 5785 Duncan St.

• First past the post election system is used by roughly one-third of all countries.

• Some form of proportional representation is used in half of the countries.

• There are currently 87 MLAs. That number could increase to a maximum of 95 if a new system is adopted.

• There are 3,295,023 registered voters in the province.

• As of the morning of Nov. 20, Elections BC estimates some 779,200 ballot packages have been received. That reflects roughly 24 percent of the vote.

• Of 46,515 registered Cowichan Valley voters, as of Nov. 20, 6,880 ballot packages, or 14.8 percent were processed by Elections BC.