New Brunswick and P.E.I. are proposing changes to how we vote. Both provincial governments have discussed changing the current, first-past-the-post electoral system to an alternative means of electing our representatives.

Another consideration is e-voting, which would allow residents to vote through an online portal. And both provinces may lower the minimum voting age from 18 to 16.

Revising democratic institutions on a regular basis is a good idea. But to implement reforms, governments must achieve consent from the people or their representatives. This means securing agreement from all political parties represented in the legislature, or putting a binding vote to the people in a referendum.

Only under these conditions will changes to how we vote be legitimate.