Do we really expect voters to understand this?

In May the citizens of beautiful British Columbia (current temp. 16+ C) will go to the polls. They'll have a chance to decide if Gordon Campbell deserves another term or if it's time to go back to the NDP. Voters will also vote on the recommendations of the Citizens Assembly that BC abandon first past the post voting for a variation of proportional representation known as single-transferable voting (STV).

How does STV work? Fortunately Shannon at Shenanigans has a long post explaining quite coherently how the system works. Here's my simple thoughts on STV in four words: It's a terrible idea.

Now I know many smart people who disagree with me. They patiently explain how it's fair, how it will create a government that better represents people and avoid the ridiculous result of the 1996 election where the Liberal's won substantially more votes than the NDP while losing the election. And they're right for the most part. But none of that matters that much.

If you read Shannon's explanation two things will probably strike. One it's really long and two this is really complicated. I certainly think that and I'm about as politically minded as they come. However whenever anyone starts explaining how STV works I find myself simply unable to pay attention. Adopting STV will mean using a system that very few voters understand. For all its flaws first past the post is easy to understand- the person who gets the most votes wins.

This may sound like I have a low expectations of voters. That's because I do. I regularly talk to people who can't tell the difference between the federal and provincial or even municipal government. If STV discourage turn out as I'm sure it will that won't bother me much. What concerns me even more is that many voters will show up. I'm resigned to the fact that the average voter is going to have only a hazy understanding of policy issues when they show up to vote but I'm rather disturbed by perception that we could have a government chosen by voters who don't really know what their vote means.