The theory is that the STV system prevents strategic voting. For that reason (reduced strategic voting) I tend to agree with the concept. However, the point about Canada's (generally) 3-party system makes me question that. If second-choice votes gravitate to the mushy middle, then we'll never have a chance to throw out a government, in all likelihood.
I'd love to see a "fluid" voting period, where we see current results in real-time as votes are cast, and we have the opportunity to strategically change our vote (for, say, 24 hours) to try to change the overall outcome to one that more suits our preferences. E.g., I voted Liberal to reduce the chance of a Conservative majority, but I certainly didn't want a strong Liberal majority...so maybe I would choose to change my vote. As votes change, the real-time results change until, at some point (or after 24 hours), we might settle on an overall picture that actually reflects the "will of the voters," and not the statistical artifact that IS first-past-the-post.
Everyone still gets ONE vote counted in the end...and everyone has an equal opportunity to vote based on all the available information, right up to the end of the voting period. It only works if & when we get to 100% electronic, online voting, though. Sooooo not practical until the year 2278.
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