Strategic voters lose, even when they win

strategic voters lose, even when they win

Election season is just around the corner in Ontario and along with the door knocking, hand shaking and lawn signs that mark the political campaign period also comes the timeless tradition of being asked to vote strategically.

Most recently the call has come from ONDP leader Andrea Horwarth, who tried to pitch her party’s status as official opposition as an argument as to why they’re the “strategic choice” to defeat Doug Ford in June. However, in any election, the chances of getting asked to vote strategically by any party are incredibly high.

Routinely rolled out as a scare tactic due to fear of vote splitting, strategic voting makes people feel like voting for the candidate they actually like instead of the one in the best position to win could lead to an even worse candidate getting elected.

It’s almost exclusively a byproduct of winner-take-all electoral systems and disenfranchises millions of voters by making them feel they can’t vote for the candidate they actually like. As well, it distracts from the parties actually having to sell themselves to voters and means we spend less time during an election actually debating real ideas.

The best answer to strategic voting of course is to simply implement a proportional system. The fact Horwath would talk about strategic voting without the need for proportional representation is very disappointing.

And while some individual ONDP members have called for PR, the party itself has been quite silent on the issue and is still yet to release its electoral reform platform ahead of the election.

All this is happening while Steven Del Duca and the Ontario Liberal Party are trying to paint themselves as electoral reform champions with their terrible ranked ballot plan.

Elections should be about debating ideas, not about who is more electable or in a better strategic position to win. So next time you find yourself being asked to vote strategically for someone other than your chosen candidate, remember to tell them strategic voting wouldn’t be a thing if we had proportional representation!


tell your ontario liberal candidate about a citizen's assembly on electoral reform

Visit your local Ontario Liberal candidate! 

The Ontario provincial election is just over a month away and we’re pushing back hard against Steven Del Duca’s self-interested plan to force winner-take-all ranked ballots in Ontario.

If you live in Parkdale-High Park, York-South Weston, Spadina—Fort York, or Eglinton—Lawrence and are willing to make an appointment with your candidate right away, (the next few days), please sign up at the link below!

Sign up here >


fair vote toronto

Join Fair Vote Toronto as our Volunteer Coordinator

Summer is on its way and with it comes outdoor events and rallies to attend! We’re looking for one or two dependable people to act as Volunteer Coordinators to help organize Fair Vote Toronto’s presence at these events.

This includes maintaining a list of rallies, farmers markets, and other events occurring this summer as well as organizing any volunteers who wish to attend.

If you’re up to the challenge, please reach out to us at fv**********@gm***.com


Fair Vote Canada featured on Cross Border Interview Podcast

FVC featured on Cross Border Interview Podcast

Earlier this month, Fair Vote Canada board member Ryan Campbell was featured on the “Cross Border” podcast talking candidly about proportional representation and Fair Vote Canada’s advocacy campaign.

Listen to the episode >


Democratic Reform in the News

Electoral reform continues to make the news around the world. Here is a sample of what is being said:


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Canada’s longest serving Prime Minister was William Lyon Mackenzie King who served 21 years, 154 days, non-consecutively, 1921 to 1948.

Canada’s shortest serving Prime Minister was Charles Tupper serving 68 days in 1896.

william lyon mackenzie king