Ideas Why PEI cares more than any other province about voting
Aug 27, 2025
Join Ed MacDonald, a political historian, Sarah Outram, an advocate for women's political participation, and Kerry Campbell, a seasoned provincial reporter, as they dive into PEI's unique voting culture. They discuss how personal connections between voters and politicians lead to high turnout. The guests highlight the importance of civic education, challenges of misinformation, and efforts to engage youth in politics. With a history of significant electoral outcomes determined by razor-thin margins, PEI showcases democracy in action, inspiring higher civic involvement across Canada.
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Lopsided Results Spark Reform Attempts
- Repeated lopsided results under first-past-the-post drove PEI to repeatedly attempt electoral reform.
- Voters felt unfairness when significant vote shares produced few or no seats.
Microstate Democracy And Close Elections
- Ed MacDonald connects classical democracy to small-states and says Islanders and MLAs know each other personally.
- He found many PEI elections were decided by 25 votes or fewer historically.
Teach Digital Self-Defense And Civic Literacy
- Equip candidates with digital self-defence tools and strengthen digital literacy to combat online threats.
- Combine civic education with digital training so people can safely participate in politics online.