B.C.’s At-Large Voting System is Unfair
It’s Time to Scrap It.
Unlike all other major Canadian cities, municipal elections in British Columbia use at-large elections to elect city councils. Imported from the United States, at-large systems keep regular people out of city hall. U.S. courts agree and have forced many state governments to abolish at-large elections for violating the rights of local voters.
What’s Wrong with At-Large Elections?
Candidates only need support from a few areas to win city-wide, leaving entire neighbourhoods ignored.
Big-money parties dominate because running city-wide campaigns is too expensive for independent candidates.
Diverse voices are shut out—the system reinforces political and racial inequities, limiting representation.
Your vote counts for less—you have less influence over elected officials.
The Bottom Line – It’s Time for Change
At-large electoral systems are unfair and undemocratic.
They silence neighbourhoods.
They shut out independent candidates.
They reward big-money parties and distort election results.
They limit diversity and fail to represent the city fairly.
