LESSON 3: Territorial Elections In a democracy, we hold elections to choose government votes, or at least one more vote than any of the other representatives.Elections are contests of leadership, ideas, candidates (plurality), in order to be elected in their area. politics and power, where interested parties and candidates campaign for our support and, ultimately, our vote. The territory is divided into small geographic areas called electoral districts. Electoral districts are determined by A political party is a group of like-minded individuals with population size as well as geographic factors such as roads a shared vision and political ideals who want to win an and rivers and cities and towns, which means that the election, form the government and achieve their political size and shape of ridings can be very different. The people goals. living within an electoral district are called constituents. There are many different systems used around the world During the election, several people in each riding will to determine who is selected and who forms government. compete for the job of representative. These individuals An electoral system is the way citizens’ choices, expressed are known as candidates. Usually they are affiliated with a as votes, are translated into seats in the legislative political party, but sometimes they are not, in which case body. Electoral systems differ based on the way choices they are called independents. are presented and the method for determining which candidate wins. Under Single-Member Plurality, one person, or candidate, is elected per district to represent the constituents. Voters Single-Member Plurality or First-Past-The-Post is the can only choose one candidate on their ballot. And the electoral system currently used across Canada, including candidate who has the most number of votes within each in Yukon. A successful candidate must receive the most district wins. They are still elected if they don’t have the support of the majority of voters – they just need more votes than any other candidate. 24 STUDENT VOTE ACTIVITY RESOURCE LESSON 3: Territorial Elections In the 2016 election, Yukoners will elect 19 MLAs to sit OUTCOMES in the legislative assembly, meaning there will be 19 mini-election races across the territory. And the political Students will gain an understanding of territorial elections, party that wins the most races will most likely form the current Yukon political parties and the candidates government and their leader will become the premier. running in their electoral district. Political parties are made up of interested members of the general public. Anyone above the required age can be INDICATORS a member of a political party. For most parties, the age is Upon completion of the lesson, students will be able to: 14. Party members can discuss ideas and propose policy. • Understand how elections work in Yukon. Some parties also have youth wings. • Recognize the role of political parties in the electoral process. Party members choose their party’s leader and local • Identify the name of their electoral district. candidates, and help them get elected. Local candidates are • Collect and interpret ideas and messages through party members selected through a nomination process by various forms of media. the local riding association. The party selects the person they • Demonstrate the skills to evaluate the candidates feel has the greatest chance of success as their candidate. running for election. A party platform is a series of declared principles and policies on jurisdictional issues that concern the RESOURCES government and the public. Parties share their platforms through announcements, advertising and events, and • PowerPoint 3: Territorial Elections (Elementary and they share their ideas in order to attract support from the Secondary versions available) electorate and to secure votes. • Activity Sheet 3.1: Understanding Elections in Yukon • Activity Sheet 3.2: Getting to Know the Parties There are many ways to gather information about local • Handout 3.3: Suggestions for Organizing an candidates. Community groups hold town hall meetings All-Candidates Debate where citizens are invited to listen to candidates speak on • Activity Sheet 3.4: Evaluating the Candidates the issues they support. Information can also be found • Activity Sheet 3.5: Understanding the Issues and on radio and television, or in newspapers. Individuals Platforms may also visit campaign offices, attend campaign events • Activity Sheet 3.6: Vote for My Party or have a chance to talk to the candidate when they visit communities in their electoral district. The Internet is also a very accessible source of information. Information ACTIVITIES can be found online through candidate websites, media Hook A: 20-25 min websites and social media platforms. 1. Ask students to imagine that their school has been given Each person’s political views are highly subjective (based a grant or sum of money to improve the school facilities on personal feelings or opinions). Just as personalities (e.g., schoolyard/playground, fitness centre, auditorium, are unique and influenced by personal feelings, tastes library). Lead a class brainstorming session on the different and opinions, so are political views. Therefore, each ways in which the money could be spent. Record the ideas person is responsible for forming his or her own opinions. on a blackboard, chart paper or Smartboard. Sometimes those opinions can be formed by listening to other people whose opinions you respect, researching 2. Group similar proposals together so that there are four information through media, and sometimes it simply takes to five main ideas. Help students form groups (‘parties’) a period of reflection to come to your own conclusions. based on their interests. Ask each group to discuss their ideas in more detail and record reasons why their ideas are good ones. Ask each group to put together a quick sales pitch for their ideas. 3. Give each group one minute to present their pitch to the rest of the class. STUDENT VOTE ACTIVITY RESOURCE 25 LESSON 3: Territorial Elections Hook B: 5-10 min • Candidates are individuals who compete for the job of Through a class discussion, ask students to think of MLA. Most candidates are linked to a political party, words or phrases that come to mind when they think but there are also independent candidates, which of the following terms: ideas, leadership and contests. have no association or affiliation. Alternatively, you could ask all students to complete the • The political party with the largest number of elected assignment for homework and produce a word cloud with MLAs after the election becomes the governing party the responses. and their leader becomes the premier. • The party that wins the second most seats becomes Discussion: 5 min the official opposition. It is their job to hold the What ideas and goals do you have for improving the government accountable. territory or specific issues at the territorial level? Teacher Note: Review the results of the 2011 territorial election. Which party had the most number of elected Essential Learning: 25-30 min MLAs? Which party formed government? 1. Use PowerPoint 3 to introduce the concept of political parties. 3. Review the list of political parties currently registered • When a community or large number of people need in Yukon and find out which have candidates running to get something done, people with similar interests for election in your school’s electoral district. Research often form groups and work together to achieve their whether there are any independent candidates. Show goals. In politics, these groups are called political students where they can find this information following parties. the close of nominations (www.electionsyk.ca). • A political party is made up of people, called party members, who share similar beliefs and goals for their 4. To solidify the learning and information discussed, ask province/territory or country. students to complete Activity Sheet 3.1. • Each party also selects a leader, usually through a leadership contest. In order for the political party to Discussion: 5 min have the chance to work towards its goals, the party must win an election and lead the government. What skills and leadership qualities do you think an MLA • During elections political parties create a party platform should have? How can you learn about the candidates? — a list of ideas or plans that aim to achieve the party’s goals and benefit the territory. While all parties may Extensions: agree that an issue like education is a priority, they may have different ideas about how to improve the system A. Organize students into groups or pairs. Assign each group or which steps to take (relate the conversation back to a party/candidate to research or allow them to choose one student proposals from Hook Activity A). based on their preference. Ensure that all parties/candidates are represented. Key questions to research: 2. Use PowerPoint 3 to explain how elections work in • What does each political party stand for? Yukon. • Who is the current leader of each party? What makes • Elections are contests of leadership, ideas, politics and them a good choice for premier? power. • Who is the local candidate? What experience, skills • Yukon is divided into 19 distinct geographic areas, and qualifications does the candidate possess? called electoral districts. Each electoral district elects • What are each party’s logos, slogans, posters and one Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) during advertisements? What are their key messages? the territorial election, meaning there will be 19 local • What are each party’s main priorities or policy ideas election contests. (platform)? What is their vision for the future of Yukon? Teacher Note: Identify your school’s electoral district and Ask each group to prepare a short presentation about their how to find out this information. Visit the Elections Yukon political party/candidate.