THE CHANGING LEADERSHIP ELECTORATE - AN EXAMINATION OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE 1992 ALBERTA CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP ELECTION

This article examines the 1992 Progressive Conservative leadership ele ction in Alberta, Canada, and assesses the degree to which this univer sal ballot produced a leadership electorate distinctive from that enfr anchised at the previous convention. The universal ballot electorate p ossessed a limited background in the party, was not heavily involved i n the campaign but included a much higher proportion of women and subs tantially more elderly voters. Participation remained essentially a mi ddle-class endeavour. Although many of the concerns raised by critics of the universal ballot are confirmed by the Alberta experiment, there are positive features to the Alberta model and the move to universal balloting is not without its merits.