1. Choosing a Government

2. Electoral Ridings
Representation in the House of Commons is based on geographical divisions known as electoral districts, commonly called ridings or constituencies.
Since Canada’s population is spread over an immense area, some electoral districts are very large and sparsely populated.

3. Election basics
Elections are held at least every five years for federal and provincial parliaments.
In British Columbia, election days are set for every four years and municipal elections are every three years.
All Canadian citizens over 18 years of age are eligible to cast a ballot

4. How are candidates chosen?
Can they Win?
must be loyal to the party and be able to take on the responsibilities of an elected member
not be an embarrassment
Sometimes leaders personally choose the candidate to run in a riding while others are chosen by riding associations.
all candidates must be acceptable to the party leadership.

5. Federal Election process
Dissolution-Governor General dissolves parliament and a federal election is called
Enumeration-A national list of voters is compiled.
Nomination- Political parties choose candidates to run in each riding.
Campaigning- Parties seek to increase public support and raise money
Voting Eligible voters visit polling stations to register and cast their vote.
Tabulating Votes are counted and a winning candidate is declared for each

6. First Past the Post
The winner does not necessarily have to win a majority of the votes cast; he or she simply has to win more votes than any of the other candidates.
This system argues that minority governments do not often happen.
the result does not always represent the wishes of the majority of voters.

7. Another Way?
In 2004, the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform recommended that British Columbia replace FPTP with single transferable vote (STV), which would have allowed a form of proportional representation.
That is, parties would gain seats by the proportion of votes they received in a large electoral district rather than having a single party win a riding by simple majority.
British Columbians overwhelmingly rejected STV in a referendum in 2009.