Majority of British Columbians want a particular civic duty to become mandatory

When it comes to civic duties, there is one in particular that the majority of British Columbians feel passionate about making mandatory, according to a new survey.

Research Co. recently asked British Columbians their thoughts on several issues related to elections and voting in the province.

The online survey found that the majority of respondents (61 per cent) felt that voting in all B.C. provincial elections should be mandatory.

However, respondents were much less inclined (10 per cent) to agree that British Columbians who don’t vote in provincial elections should be fined. Nearly two-in-five (38 per cent) said that those who do vote in provincial elections should receive a reward via tax incentives.

Respondents were also asked about the electoral systems they preferred for provincial elections.

Elections BC voting place. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)

Currently, the first-past-the-post system is used for Canada’s federal and provincial elections, where the candidate with the most votes wins the constituency.

Research and Co. found that 65 per cent of British Columbians said they were in support of this electoral system, and 21 per cent said they weren’t in favour of it.

There were certain areas of B.C. where residents were more dissatisfied with first-past-the-post than others. Victoria had the opposition with 29 per cent, followed by Southern B.C. and the Fraser Valley (24 per cent).

The survey also asked British Columbians their thoughts about whether the legal voting age should be lowered. Currently, only Canadian Citizens aged 18 and up can vote in federal and provincial elections.

35 per cent of respondents said they support British Columbians who qualify as Canadian citizens to vote when they turn 16 or 17.

However, more than half of survey respondents (57 per cent) were more supportive of allowing permanent residents aged 18 and over to vote in provincial elections.

Research Co. conducted this online survey from July 13 to 15 among 814 adults in B.C.

What are your thoughts about the results? Do you agree that voting in B.C. elections should be mandatory? Let us know in the comments.