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Wrekin and Telford Liberal Democrats Campaigning across The Wrekin and Telford Constituencies |
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What is the Alternative Vote (AV)?
Campaign group the Electoral Reform Society says "AV represents a logical progression from first past the post. Preserving the traditional one member, one constituency, it ensures all MPs have a real mandate while delivering greater choice and eliminating the need for tactical voting.
The Alternative Vote (AV) is very much like First-Past-the-Post (FPTP). Like FPTP, it is used to elect representatives for single-member constituencies, except that rather than simply marking one solitary 'X' on the ballot paper, the voter has the chance to rank the candidates on offer.
The voter thus puts a '1' by their first-preference candidate, and can continue, if they wish, to put a '2' by their second-preference, and so on, until they don't care anymore or they run out of names.
If a candidate receives a majority of first-preference votes (more people put them as number one than all the rest combined), then they are elected.
If no candidate gains a majority on first preferences, then the second-preference votes of the candidate who finished last on the first count are redistributed. This process is repeated until someone gets over 50 per cent.
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The case for AV:
- All MPs would have the support of a majority of their voters. Following the 2010 election 2/3 of MPs lacked majority support, the highest figure in British political history.
- It retains the same constituencies, meaning no need to redraw boundaries, and no overt erosion of the constituency-MP link.
- It penalises extremist parties, who are unlikely to gain many second-preference votes.
- It eliminates the need for tactical voting. Electors can vote for their first-choice candidate without fear of wasting their vote.
- It encourages candidates to chase second- and third-preferences, which lessens the need for negative campaigning (one doesn't want to alienate the supporters of another candidate whose second preferences one wants) and rewards broad-church policies.
AV in Practice
- Leadership elections for Labour and Liberal Democrats
- Elections for UK parliamentary officials including Select Committee Chairs.
- Elections for the Academy Award for Best Picture
- Australian House of Representatives.
- Millions of people in membership organisations, businesses and trade unions internal elections.
- Most Student Union elections.
- Irish Presidential election.
- Numerous American City, Mayoral and district elections.
Related items and external links
Fairer Votes Q&A Meeting 01/12/10 Shrewsbury 6th Form College
Nick Clegg's statement on political and constitutional reform
Electoral Reform Society AV FAQ
BBC Q&A: Electoral reform and proportional representation
LibDemVoice Opinion: Why Lib Dems should have no reservations about campaigning for AV
Labour use AV in leadership elections
Compare 2010 general election under AV or PR
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