European elections.... I don't understand

[Happygolucky009]

Perhaps I am being dim, just been to vote in the European elections. There was a wide range of parties (approx7) with most naming 5 candidates standing.

Local elections recently, 2 parties with 4 candidates in total.

Why so many european candidates when we are leaving Europe and why so few options with local elections....

Why?

[MoreSlidingDoors]

The voting systems are completely different.

There should be a basic guide somewhere on the BBC website.

(Some of us still hope that the sense kicks in and the whole Brexit “let’s shoot everyone in the head” bollocks is scrapped.)

[myrtleWilson]

We use the d'hondt method for voting in European elections.

Each party puts forward x number of candidates in a specific order
Voters vote for a party rather than candidate.

So if your region the Happy Party gets most votes they are awarded the first seat (of however many your region has) - which will go to the first named candidate of the Happy Party.

If the Happy Party won 30% of the vote, that is then slashed to 15%

If no other party won more than 15% of the vote, then the Happy Party gets the second seat - going to the second named candidate.

etc

here's a primer from the BBC with a worked example

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27187434

[myrtleWilson]

I realise I only explained half the method but the bbc primer is better than my explanation so I thought I'd c&p that instead...

[ReganSomerset]

I haven't had the time to read all the manifestos so might end up not voting at all.

[Ces6]

I haven't had the time to read all the manifestos so might end up not voting at all.
🙁🙁I wish people wouldn't even say this. It's a big kick in the teeth for everyone who has been disenfranchised.

[ReganSomerset]

I wish people wouldn't even say this. It's a big kick in the teeth for everyone who has been disenfranchised.

I'm not sure what you mean by that. Could you explain further?

[Ces6]

There are thousands of people who want to vote who can't because of admin problems.

[ReganSomerset]

There are thousands of people who want to vote who can't because of admin problems

I fail to see the link. Is it similar to the 'eat your vegetables, there are starving children in Africa' trope?

[ReganSomerset]

*I think cliche would be a better word than trope.

[myrtleWilson]

I don't know for sure but I wonder if Ces6 is referring to Europeans living in UK that have been denied their legal right to vote today because of admin issues (partly I think down to the short notice/lack of capacity for LA's) - on twitter there is a hashtag #deniedmyvote.

[myrtleWilson]

www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/23/eu-citizens-denied-vote-european-election-polling-booths-admin-errors?CMP=share_btn_tw

[Ces6]

Yes. Thanks for the link Myrtle. It was all over the news so I thought it was clear.

[Ivegotthree]

Well said @myrtleWilson