BC ACORN Speaks Out for overhaul of anti-democratic voting systems in BC

Gary Roden, ACORN New West Co-Chair, recently spoke to a legislative committee on electoral reform, highlighting why proportional representation (PR) matters for low- and moderate-income communities.

Speaking on behalf of ACORN members across BC, Gary emphasized how first-past-the-post leaves too many voters unheard and disengaged. He stressed that politicians often ignore low-income communities because of low turnout—turnout that’s discouraged by a system where many votes don’t count.

Gary also raised the issue of Surrey’s at-large voting system, calling for a ward-based approach to make local government more accessible. “It’s nearly impossible to run citywide in a city of 700,000 without major money,” he said. “A ward system could open doors for everyday people—including ACORN members.”

The special committee is reporting back to the BC government in the fall. With cities like Surrey failing miserably at engaging residents—and the province as a whole dominated by anti-democratic at-large and first-past-the-post elections—a time for change is long overdue.