Referendum Day

Today is a national holiday in the Cayman Islands as locals go to the polls to vote on a national referendum to reform the election system.  With such a small population, elections are difficult to hold if it is a normal work day so they typically declare a national holiday.  This is both so that everyone can get to the polls and so that all the poll workers aren't missing a day of work.  The issue at stake today deals with single member districts and the concept of one man, one vote.  The current system allows people in each district to vote for all the representatives in their district meaning that some people have up to five votes while others have as little as one in the smallest districts.  The referendum can only pass if a majority of the registered voters approve it which means it must not only win amongst the people who actually vote but must get 50.01 % of the total registered voters whether they vote or not.  It has been a lively debate among the population and amongst our students so it will be interesting to see how things go tonight when they count the returns.