Why Does BC-STV Have Potential to Make Politics More Civil?
Under BC-STV, candidates will receive second-place support (and perhaps third-place, fourth-place, etc.) from voters whose first preference is a competing candidate. This is a powerful incentive for candidates to show civility to the other candidates. Election campaigns will be more positive and less negative. Negative advertising and unfair personal attacks are counter productive in preferential voting. The current voting system rewards destructive behavior. BC-STV rewards candidates and parties who built bridges and seek consensus.
