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Articles on Electoral system

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NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has his makeup applied during a commercial beak at recent the Maclean’s/Citytv leaders debate. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Style over substance: Another uninspiring Canadian election campaign

Given entrenched characteristics of Canadian electoral politics, the 2019 election is unlikely to deal in any meaningful way with concrete solutions to the important problems of our times.
Voting is the most important undertaking a citizen has in a democracy. With the Ontario election upon us and others looming, consider some non-partisan advice on how to cast your ballot. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

How to cast your ballot: The non-partisan’s voting guide

How you vote is an indication of the role you think government plays in society. As elections loom in Canada and beyond, here’s a guide to non-partisan, responsible voting.
New Zealand Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern, centre, and deputy leader Kelvin Davis, a Maori, far left, answer questions from the media in August in Wellington, New Zealand. Following the Sept. 23 election, Ardern could became the country’s next prime minister if she can convince minor parties to support her. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)

What New Zealand’s vote means for Maori – and potentially First Nations in Canada

While the Maori Party got wiped out in this weekend’s New Zealand election, there’s still a Maori presence in the country’s political system. That’s why Canadian First Nations should take note.
An electoral officer in Benin. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Are poor societies stuck with dictators?

A classical political science debate focuses on whether democracy is dependent on development. The director of the Electoral Integrity Project revisits the issue using new data from African elections.
The recall is a democratic tool for active citizen participation and intervention. United Nations Photo/flickr

Flipped elections: can recalls improve democracy?

The recall is an ancient electoral procedure that has gained support in recent decades as a means for voters to defend the democratic state against extremism and serious abuses of power.
Tony Abbott opens the campaign office for Liberal candidate Ken Wyatt in 2010. Now he and all incumbent MPs enjoy a $300,000 advantage over their challengers at the next election. AAP/Dean Lewins

Budget’s $45m slush fund for MPs is an unethical use of public money

‘Better Communities’ funding is supposedly non-partisan: every electorate gets $300,000 for local projects. But only incumbent MPs have a say in this spending and 60% of them are government members.
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha shows little sign of listening to growing public opposition to his military junta’s authoritarian rule. EPA

A year on, coup leaders rule with disdain for Thais and democracy

A year ago, a military coup toppled Thailand’s elected government. The junta promised elections once a new constitution is adopted, but its authoritarian rule betrays a hostility to real democracy.
Ed Miliband’s Labour Party gained a swing twice as big as the Conservatives did but lost seats, leading him to resign. EPA/Facundo Arrizabalaga

Voting system gives Tories a result most UK voters didn’t want

Labour, UKIP and the Greens all gained much bigger swings than the Conservatives, but were election losers. The first-past-the-post system let the Tories pick up a swag of seats with a 0.8% swing.

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