Wednesday, November 22, 2000 —- Nevth Shore News - 33

computerize
‘negativity

Eugene Kaallis
Contributing Writer

THE Bush-Gore ker-
fuffle in the U.S. has
focused attention on
the mechanism that
‘democratic societies
“(with deliberate’ .
_Maivete) assert guaran-
tees true representa-
: tive government —
elections.

i Concern so far has been not about the antiquated
. Electoral Coilege system (thankfully not a Canadian con-
cern) but on the actual process of balloting, and here offi-

cials and th t trating on which candidate : . : ;
received the greater number of votes. Our ‘nal, ihe mayor

‘But they are ignoring the political content of almost all
recent elections in the U.S., Canada, and probably in most WEST Vancouver Mayor Ron Wood went back to the classroom fast week, when he was “principal for a dy” at
of the world that uses a balloting rOCess. Gleneagiss elementary school. The mayor helped with the marming announcements, taugnt.a Grade 6 math:

Pp
What emerges from all recent elections is thet, except for . ciass, supervised the playground and spoke toa Grade ? class on the impact of the BC Ferriss sexpenalon pions,

zelatively few. enthusiasts, mest people vote against, not for.
They’ mark an “X” on the ballot mostly fo keep “the other
By out more than to put “their guys” in. So why not
kly recognize this in the balloting procedure? ~
: Computerized voting, now being used in a number of
jusisdictions abroad, would not only speed up the results
very ‘considerabiy, it would: permit the concrete expression
acknowledgment of the prevailing “lesser evil” :
~ approach. ;
con uters could do this with negative and weighted
s in other rating systems, voters could express their. .
opinions ona ‘Positive ‘scale of one to five or a negative scale .
one to fives 8 8 0-*

: For any. candidate, the negative votes would then be sub-
tracted from. the positive votes. The candidate with the feast
negativity would declared the winner. Candidate A could

win with a total of minus 160 well aliead of rival, B, with
minus 500,'and C, with minus 800.
“., Such a result would be sobering for the winner. And, it
“ becomes increasingly ¢ fas bach that our leaders can stand a
heavy ¢ dose of humility. Election by default could make
more. responsible to the people they purport to...
c Presta
=, Computers for tits electoral task could he produced sim-
ly and inexpensively. -; ae

“They coutd ‘prevent. ‘multipte voting . far more easily than |
our present system by alerting all other tallying computers ©.
the moment a voter inserts his magnetized voters card. The: °
public is already accustomed to using computers. ;

In fact, as ‘a novel application, the system would probably
(at least initially), any more ‘people than now both-
@r to go to the polls. So
Such a‘ proposal would, however, have tough going.
ré than most peoplc,- politicians ‘ want to believe that they
are liked. more. than their opponents are disliked. 2 7

—-

| ee: ene

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING -
PARKS & RECREATION COMMITTEE -

The Parks and Recreation Committee of Council will be considering | the following issue :
outlined in the report of the Parks Design Technician, dated October 26, 2000, entitied .
"Public Consultation, Interpretive Plan for Mocdyvitie Park®, and the resolution of:
Council dated November 6, 2000, at a Public Meeting to be held in the Council Chambe
: City Hall,.141 West J4th Street, North Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday November 28, 2000
MACKENZIE Fuyisawa - aim zg at 8:00 p.m. . oe a .
BREWER STEVENSON ‘| || mt ° The purpose of the meeting is to facilitate discussion of proposed playground improvements :

vancouve

“BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS”. -- “4
1800; 400 Burrard Street | "7d || i east and interpretive signage for Moodyville Park. .

AGENDA:

@ Staff Presentation _
.@ Representations from the public .

® Discussion by members of the
~ Parks and Recreation Committee

-© Recommendations from the Committee

® Adjournment
Councillor J.B. Braithwaite, Chair, invites all interested members of.the. -° -
public t to attend the Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting, and make.

_ comments on the above. Those who wish to review the report on this ©

“ topic can obtain. copies from the City Clerk's Office prior to the meeting. : [: Councillor Bill Belt
ss 4 tes = E Councilor John Braithwaite

“Sandra E E. Dowey ae oe ee }) Couricillor Bob Fearnley ~

: re aa ue tye f° > Councillor Craig Keating
Deputy City Cler k Py ee a 20.0 [> Couneiltor Darrell Mussatto
_ we yet ae a Councillor Barbara Perrault