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This week, British Columbians begin receiving ballots to vote on whether to change the province’s voting system to proportional representation from the traditional first-past-the-post system.

It’s the third such referendum in 18 years.

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The first two failed to meet the threshold for change — just barely in 2005, when 57.7 per cent voted in favour of proportional representation, just missing the government’s 60 per cent hurdle.

In 2009, support for pro-rep dropped to 39 per cent.

But the rules have changed. The threshold this time is a simple majority of 50 per cent plus one and there is no rule that a majority of voters in 60 per cent of ridings must vote in favour.

That means that voters in populous Metro Vancouver — where polls show higher support for proportional representation — could have a greater influence than those in other parts of B.C.

This time, voters are first asked to indicate whether they want to change to pro-rep from the first-past-the-post system.