[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Livia

We had a vote a couple of years ago on whether we wanted to adopt the Alternative Vote. People overwhelming voted no.

That was the start of a backlash against the Lib Dems however in part, who had started to support some unbelievably extreme polices in the coalition and who were left to steer this referendum through.

I voted no to it too.
I feel I was wrong to do so now, however the problem with AV is that it would have changed things only slightly.
Were there to be a proper in depth campaign as to pr, explaining how each vote would then make a difference, I think a lot of people who didn't even bother to vote in the AV fiasco, would look at things differently.

It may well be that a rejection would come of pr but AV was a very poor concession as to changing the voting system which probably would not have inspired those really wanting change now to an electoral system.

What system there could be, I am not sure which one I prefer of the possibilities but I am now firmly of the mind that we need more accountability and representation of peoples votes in elections, something we are not getting at all now really.

In 2005, we got a Labour govt with an overall majority taking less than 36% of the votes cast.
Here in 2015,we have the Conservatives with less than 37% also now in govt with a majority.
In the multi party system we have and for people to feel their vote really matters and they can change things, that is not acceptable anymore now, in my opinion.

Even moreso now with the regional differences across the UK too, so I being one who voted no to AV before, would not vote against it again and certainly would now support a better form of pr for general elections.

It is really ridiculous for govts to repeatedly get under 37% of all votes cast and then be able to govern unchecked as to all policies being implemented, if they have an overall majority.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

That was the start of a backlash against the Lib Dems however in part, who had started to support some unbelievably extreme polices in the coalition and who were left to steer this referendum through.

I voted no to it too.
I feel I was wrong to do so now, however the problem with AV is that it would have changed things only slightly.
Were there to be a proper in depth campaign as to pr, explaining how each vote would then make a difference, I think a lot of people who didn't even bother to vote in the AV fiasco, would look at things differently.

It may well be that a rejection would come of pr but AV was a very poor concession as to changing the voting system which probably would not have inspired those really wanting change now to an electoral system.

What system there could be, I am not sure which one I prefer of the possibilities but I am now firmly of the mind that we need more accountability and representation of peoples votes in elections, something we are not getting at all now really.

In 2005, we got a Labour govt with an overall majority taking less than 36% of the votes cast.
Here in 2015,we have the Conservatives with less than 37% also now in govt with a majority.
In the multi party system we have and for people to feel their vote really matters and they can change things, that is not acceptable anymore now, in my opinion.

Even moreso now with the regional differences across the UK too, so I being one who voted no to AV before, would not vote against it again and certainly would now support a better form of pr for general elections.

It is really ridiculous for govts to repeatedly get under 37% of all votes cast and then be able to govern unchecked as to all policies being implemented, if they have an overall majority.

What confuses me joey, is that, although the vote was a resounding no to AV (I voted no too) it is still used for some elections. For instance... the Police and Crime Commissioner election. I spoke to an agent friend a while ago about this. I did the last PCC election and he's doing the next's year's. The last PCC election was not won on the first choice votes, it was won on the second choice. I can't see how that can be reflective.

Anyhoo, I would vote against AV again. Unless someone comes up with a better alternative then I would be happy to stick with what we have.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Livia

What confuses me joey, is that, although the vote was a resounding no to AV (I voted no too) it is still used for some elections. For instance... the Police and Crime Commissioner election. I spoke to an agent friend a while ago about this. I did the last PCC election and he's doing the next's year's. The last PCC election was not won on the first choice votes, it was won on the second choice. I can't see how that can be reflective.

Anyhoo, I would vote against AV again. Unless someone comes up with a better alternative then I would be happy to stick with what we have.

Perhaps you and I could devise a new system Livia.

I do like the idea of strong govt that comes from first past the post, even if I disagree with the govt at the time but I do think we need a threshold of acceptable percentage of votes needing to be gained to form a majority govt now.
Something to further endorse that would get my vote for sure.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Perhaps you and I could devise a new system Livia.

I do like the idea of strong govt that comes from first past the post, even if I disagree with the govt at the time but I do think we need a threshold of acceptable percentage of votes needing to be gained to form a majority govt now.
Something to further endorse that would get my vote for sure.

Sadly, I can't see a different way that everyone could agree on. Even if we had a huge upheaval of the political structure. Even then some people would think it was a conspiracy!