The Alternative Vote

[Guest M12 Part 2]

I'm voting no tbh. Labour and conservatives will always win regardless. If you vote yes all you are doing is giving them an excuse to be that bit more extreme than they are now with the excuse that they are trying to take votes away from the extreme parties like bnp.

[Guest haze-e]

Im voting NO.

From what mumsie explained to me it doesnt sound fair at all.

[Skola]

I'm going to vote yes.

It's more representative than FTP, even if it isn't the most representative system.

If it turns out to be no, we have another x amount of years with either Labour/Conservatives constantly ruling with parties like Green not getting a look in and they are becoming increasingly important, imo.

edit - YES you get it!

Its not a great system

but its BETTER

the tories only one ONE SEAT in Scotland but with FPTP they rule the whole country

f*ck em

VOTE YES

EVEN IF YOU DONT CARE

I should get a megaphone

[Mr Q]

FPTP isn't a fair system at all.

60% of this country voted for left of the field political parties and we are stuck with the conservatives

Simple way to put it...

Is it fair that a party gets 35% of the vote but then gets 55% of the seats in parliament?

The next party wins 30% of the vote but only gets 30 % of the seats in parliament?

The BNP are against the AV system, as it would not give them ANY advantage, its some myth that has gained too much air time.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/apr/12/switch-av-not-boost-bnp-chances-thinktank

[Guest M12 Part 2]

I don't think it gives bnp an advantage but it gives mainstream parties an excuse to be more extreme and say they are doing it to win votes from smaller parties like the bnp.

[Skola]

I don't think it gives bnp an advantage but it gives mainstream parties an excuse to be more extreme and say they are doing it to win votes from smaller parties like the bnp.

i dont understand

from what i know it gives people the chance to vote for a smaller party, knowing that if that party does SHITE that they can still ALSO vote AGAINST the party they hate by having the opposition as their 2nd choice...

[Flojo]

i'll be voting yes, all those people that have voted for a party that was their 2nd preference out of fear of wasting a vote should logically welcome the AV system.

[Skola]

*e-spuds flojo*

[Mr Q]

It means parties have to broaden their horizons and appeal to more people, but the BNP vote in this country is very very minute.

Anyway, most people who vote labour are going to have a second choice of Lib Dem/Green Party

And with Lib Dems it will be Green P/Lab

Conservatives are cunts, but I actually doubt many of them would actually vote for a 2nd preference of BNP.

It's not as if we are America were there is a lot of support for Right Wing loons, like I said, the majority of the country is centre left on the political spectrum, trying to gain voters from the BNP would in most cases be pointless.

Also, I read a good quote that I think sums up my thoughts, if you vote no to AV, you're potentially shutting the door on electoral reform for MANY years, voting yes could be the beginning of making the electoral process to be so much more representative.

[MARVELL]

i dont know what this means and either way all the 3 parties are corrupt.

i will leave a nice personal message to the 3 stooges on my voting card

[Ashman]

As a member of the Liberal Democrats and local activist who has been out the last few weeks talking to people on the street on AV let me just point out that yes, Nick Clegg betrayed the people and Yes, Nick Clegg broke his pledge BUT this vote is not about the Liberal Democrats or Nick Clegg, it is a cross party campaign and for a cause to make the voting system fairer. MPs hold onto what we call 'Safe Seats' and because of this, many potential voters will not go out and vote because they believe it will only be a wasted vote and this is a real shame as people that live within a constituency have to live by the status quo. MPs will have to work twice as hard to ensure they remain elected and it is also about increasing the power of the vote. A party can govern right now with 32% of the overall vote as the first past the post system only shows that the posts or the finishing line if you like is constantly being moved backwards and forwards. We need to increase the democratic voice within this country and get people back out voting again. Vote for fairer votes, vote YES on May 5th. And by the way, I agree AV is not the best solution as proportional Representation is by far the ultimate goal, but without this once in a lifetime step, this goal will not be achieved any time soon.

[imhim]

anyone voting lib dems needs a schlap

[Lens]

the only way we guarantee a party gets more than 50% is if it's a 2 way election

regardless of the voting system, nobody is gonna get more than 50%

even if they win with the AV, they will be winning with 50% of 1st, 2nd and 3rd votes,

BUT

they will still have less than 50% of people's first votes, which will mean the same thing as always - party 30 something % of people voted for in power. .

i think it would be fairer if a party only gets 32% of the vote, and is only seen as getting 32% of the vote, rather than having it boosted up to over 50% by the AV

in terms of what Skola and Flojo are sayin, what needs to be changed is the proportion of seats won needs to equal the percentage of votes, ie party described above winning with 32% of votes getting 32% of seats

i don't see the need to force a majority party, it's surely fairer if the parties are represented in the proportion in which they're voted (regardless of system)

[Ashman]

votin no all the f*ckin way

unless u guys want labour scum in power forever putin up speed cameras and taxing your inheritance

puttin up congestion charging

takin gthe piss out of your lives

conservatives have been great so far

if it were not for Labour, you would not be in the country mate. And that's coming from a Lib Dem.

[Ashman]

the only way we guarantee a party gets more than 50% is if it's a 2 way election

regardless of the voting system, nobody is gonna get more than 50%

even if they win with the AV, they will be winning with 50% of 1st, 2nd and 3rd votes,

BUT

they will still have less than 50% of people's first votes, which will mean the same thing as always - party 30 something % of people voted for in power. .

i think it would be fairer if a party only gets 32% of the vote, and is only seen as getting 32% of the vote, rather than having it boosted up to over 50% by the AV

in terms of what Skola and Flojo are sayin, what needs to be changed is the proportion of seats won needs to equal the percentage of votes, ie party described above winning with 32% of votes getting 32% of seats

i don't see the need to force a majority party, it's surely fairer if the parties are represented in the proportion in which they're voted (regardless of system)

precisely. But they need AV for PR to even stand a chance because under FPTP they simply cannot get it pushed through the Commons. Simply do not have the numbers.

[Skenghis Khan]

after some contemplation and reading ive moved to the yes camp. was against because this isnt the electoral reform i was hoping for (PR). but av IS fairer than fptp which favours the conservatives who have been in power for the majority of the last 100 years despite only having an absolute majority once, in 1931. the core politics of this country is left of center but the leftwing vote is split over several parties, av shud pull things round to reflect how ppl are actually voting.

[Ashman]

after some contemplation and reading ive moved to the yes camp. was against because this isnt the electoral reform i was hoping for (PR). but av IS fairer than fptp which favours the conservatives who have been in power for the majority of the last 100 years despite only having an absolute majority once, in 1931. the core politics of this country is left of center but the leftwing vote is split over several parties, av shud pull things round to reflect how ppl are actually voting.

Good man!

[Niall Ferguson]

Yes, Yes and Yes.

Cba to explain tho, it's gon be what it's gon be

[Skola]

i don't see the need to force a majority party, it's surely fairer if the parties are represented in the proportion in which they're voted (regardless of system)

yes there is but at the moment that is not whats on offer

what is on offer is some sort of change

i see it as a step in the right direction

[Guest Esquilax]

It won't pass cuz too many people are scared of change

And it's a fairly drastic change

[Mr. Martinez]

[O.Man]

this is our chance to voice our want for political reform

do we want it or not?

/

Guide to AV on front page

http://www.private-eye.co.uk/eyeplayer.php?media=142&

[O.Man]

first referendum in 35 years

government does f*ck all to inform us

disgusting

f*ck THIS sh*t

[Skola]

It won't pass cuz too many people are scared of change

THIS

"the system we have works"

[Woodpecker]

piss off mate