Yes to the alternative vote
In a previous posting, I have declared my support for the introduction of the Alternative Vote (AV) electoral system for elections to the UK Parliament and my intention to vote ‘yes’ in the referendum on 5 May.
Today the think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr) – for whom my son works – has published a report setting out the case for AV and refuting the arguments against it.
According to the report, the Alternative Vote system is better suited to the modern electorate than First Past the Post because voters have become more ‘promiscuous’ and less tribal in the way they vote. The report shows that voters are happy to express more than one preference when they cast their ballots and most people are prepared to express three preferences.
The report shows that AV will reduce tactical voting while preserving the principle of ‘one voter, one vote’. YouGov polling for ippr shows that more than one in five voters say they have engaged in ‘tactical voting’ and voted for their second choice under the First Past the Post system
The media release is here and the report is here.
April 20th, 2011 at 6:20 pm
I’ve yet to make my mind up, but I’m leaning no. I just hate the idea that a BNP priority voter gets to have a second vote. Although in my constituency it will never matter.