Canadian Political Science Review Vol. 10 No. 1 2016 July-December: 31-57. The 2015 Provincial Election in Prince Edward Island Don Desserud Professor of Political Science Department of Political Science University of Prince Edward Island
[email protected] Jeff Collins Doctoral Candidate Department of Political Science Carleton University
[email protected] Abstract: Prince Edward Island's 65th General Election was held 4 May 2015. The Prince Edward Island Liberal Party (Liberals) won 18 of the Island's 27 seats, capturing its third straight majority. The Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island (PCs) improved its standing to eight seats, once again forming the Official Opposition. The Green Party of Prince Edward Island (Greens) picked up a single seat - its party leader winning that party's first ever in a PEI election. The New Democratic Party of Prince Edward Island (NDP) did not win a seat, despite garnering slightly more votes island-wide than did the Greens. The surprise of the election may not have been the historic election of the leader of the Greens, but the fact that two candidates tied, resulting in a coin toss to determine the winner. Keywords: PEI, election, Green Party, electoral reform 31 Canadian Political Science Review Vol. 10 No. 1 2016 July-December: 31-57. Introduction: Prince Edward Island’s 65th General Election was held 4 May 2015. The Prince Edward Island Liberal Party (Liberals) won 18 of the Island’s 27 seats, capturing its third straight majority. The Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island (PCs) improved its standing to eight seats, once again forming the Official Opposition, but failed to elect its leader.