First Past The Post System Analysis

The first of the four systems I will analyze is the current method of voting in Canada – First Past the Post (FPTP). Named as a reference to horse racing, FPTP voting systems elect candidates simply by who got the most votes in an electoral riding. FPTP has many distinct advantages; it provides voters with a simple and easy to understand voting system, it often gives way to majority governments (Reynolds, 2003, pp. 28) which allows for the easy passing of legislation, and perhaps most importantly, gives voters a clear link between themselves and Parliament, in the form of their MP. However, many notable disadvantages exist in FPTP systems. Primarily, the results of a FTPT system rarely accurately reflect the wishes of the voters. Because a