Electoral reform coalition uses Labour Day picnic to spread word

Volunteers for the P.E.I. Coalition for Proportional Representation took Monday's Labour Day picnic in Charlottetown as a chance to spread the word about the upcoming provincial electoral reform plebiscite set for October and November.

"We're talking to be people across the Island. Any event where there's going to be a lot of people we're going to try to be in the next 55 days," said Anna Keenan, who runs volunteer canvassing for the group.

The coalition has collected about 800 pledges so far.

"We're aiming to get like 20,000 in the next 55 days," said Keenan.

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Fellow volunteer Edith Perry said not everyone who has signed is especially politically involved.

She thinks people just want to have their voice heard at election time.

"I know I've talked to and had someone sign the pledge form just a few weeks ago. And she isn't politically involved in any way… nor is she involved in any kind of the activist groups," said Perry.

The plebiscite will feature dual-member and mixed-member proportional representation systems on the ballot.

It will also feature a preferential voting option as well as the first-past-the-post system, and a modified "plus leaders" version of the same.

The voting period will be Oct.29 until Nov. 7.