A savvy Richmond teen has explaining the proportional representation systems British Columbians can vote for in the electoral reform referendum, perhaps helping those around her scratching their heads over ballot.
Maggie Lee, 17, researched, designed and coded a site that鈥檚 a no-nonsense guide to the three alternative PR systems (dual member proportional, mixed member proportional and rural-urban proportional) as part of a school project.鈥淓verybody I talked to had no idea. Whether they had read the (Elections BC) guide or not, they were like 鈥業 don鈥檛 know what any of this means鈥�. I decided I would try to help,鈥� she said.
She鈥檚 enrolled in the聽聽with the Richmond school board, a self-directed learning program that lets students choose their own projects to complete the curriculum. During Lee鈥檚 social studies unit on Parliament and elections, she found herself fascinated by the different electoral systems.鈥淔or my final project, I thought this is a relevant issue now since we鈥檙e having a referendum.鈥�
Besides getting an A, her goal was to help her family and people at school get a handle on the different systems. But first, she had to crack them herself.
鈥淥ne challenge was understanding how the systems work. They鈥檙e very complicated and they aren鈥檛 explained that well. For [some] there are algorithms for how it ends up being proportional and I tried to figure those out.鈥�
After a few weeks researching by looking at online news articles, the Elections BC information package and advocacy group websites, Lee is ready to throw her support behind MMP.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very similar to what we have. How we vote and we have an MLA who represents us, but there鈥檚 also the regional MLAs which make the seats in the legislature more proportional and evens it out a lot,鈥� she said.
But being only 17, Lee won鈥檛 be able to cast a ballot this referendum (even though she鈥檚 arguably one of the most informed people in the province).聽
鈥淚 kind of wish I could vote. Ugh, only one year,鈥� she said.
She hopes voters choose a form of proportional representation, so that system will be in place once she is eligible to vote. Her message to those who can vote? Get informed.
鈥淭his is very important and it could really change who we see in our legislature and what happens in our province.鈥�
