Nova Scotia Liberals are sending delegates to pick their leader in April, trading in the one-member, one-vote system they've used since 1992.

In the last four leadership contests, every card-carrying Liberal in the province had the chance to vote for a leader.

But this April, each of the 52 riding associations in the province will be able to send 30 party members to the two-day leadership convention in Dartmouth.

"It gives an equal opportunity to 52 different ridings across the province, from Yarmouth to Cape Breton," said Charles Gaudet, one of the convention organizers.

Provincial Liberals announced the rules for the leadership selection process on Monday.

The new system is similar to the way federal Liberals chose Stéphane Dion in December. But unlike in the federal race, those chosen to be delegates do not have to promise a first-ballot vote to any one candidate — they can decide who they'll vote for after they've been selected to go to the convention.

Under the old one-member, one-vote system, some Liberals complained about a flood of votes coming from Cape Breton. Having an equal number of delegates from every riding should prevent that.

It's a move that pleases possible leadership candidate Kenzie MacKinnon.

"It does not make sense to have a system which weighs towards certain ridings because they are healthier for whatever reason but which have the same weight in the house as every other riding," he said.

MacKinnon said he'll know by the end of the week whether he'll enter the race.

Only one candidate has put his name forward

So far only Colchester County Mayor Mike Smith is on the ballot to become the new leader of the Liberals.

Cape Breton MLA Michel Samson has been acting leader since June 2006, when Francis MacKenzie failed to win a seat in the election and stepped down. Samson said Friday that he wouldn't run for the leadership.

Candidates have until Feb. 15 to enter the race. They can spend up to $150,000 on their campaigns.

The "super weekend" for choosing delegates will be March 23-25.

The third-party Liberals currently hold nine of the 52 seats in the legislature.