so are you going to bother to vote on the electoral reform referendum?

[easternstar]

Or not?

To be honest I don't think either AV or first past the post is the best method.

When I did my government and politics A-level donkey's years ago I always thought that the fairest method was to have larger constituencies and make up the difference with a party list system based on percentages.

Yes. I shall.

I will vote, even though I am majorly peed off that they are holding this referendum on the same day as the Scottish Parliament election.

Just not decided how I will vote, or whether to spoil paper. Probably will vote yes, because the tories don't like it, and Lord John Reid, ex Labour minister is leading the no campaign. That suggests to me it must be considering.

Yes, I will be voting yes to AV. Whilst it's not my preferred electoral system I think it is a step in the right direction and better than FPTP. However, I would have preferred to have a choice to pick from, not just a yes or a no.

I don't really want AV, I would like PR, but feel that voting no to AV would be taken as a sign that I am happy with the current system and status quo that comes with it.

The Av is rubbish but better than First-past-the-post! The better way would be full PR but without that option I will be voting FOR AV.

I shall vote. But I am not yet sure which way.

It won't make any difference in the area I live in (entrenched Toryland) but I will be voting for AV, because it is a step in the right direction. Plus the last time I voted at national level was in the Common Market referendum so I don't want to ruin my scores

I'll probably be voting 'no' in the referendum. I'm already fed up with the tactical voting merchants trying to decide if a 'no' or a 'yes' will bring down the coalition or whatever and, with AV in place, the party apparatchiks will have a tactical voting field day! Guaranteed there will be someone at HQ working out the numbers in each borough and Twittering them who to put 1st, 2nd and 3rd to increase the odds of getting their candidate bounced through on the recounts.

I am fed up with the Lib Dems giving Cameron an excuse to sell us out on Europe.

I don't want a permanent Lib Dem government. I also don't want to waste hundreds of millions of pounds each election on extra admin costs.

Hence I will be voting NO to AV.

I will vote NO.

The costs involved with AV would be massive. In terms of explaining the system and actually implementing it.

It's unpredictable and unfair. Unfair that fringe parties could have votes counted several times.

Hasn't worked in countries where it was introduced. Would only really work if voting was compulsory like in Australia.

It isn't even the PR that people want. A half-measure. If introduced, would we then go through yet more upheaval and expense in order to introduce further changes. Makes no sense to me.

The costs involved with AV would be massive. In terms of explaining the system and actually implementing it.

Nonsense. It's not a terribly complicated system at all. You vote for your candidates in order of preferences. The way votes are allocated can be explain in 5 minutes using a flash animation on a website - which, in fact, the BBC has done.

It's unpredictable and unfair. Unfair that fringe parties could have votes counted several times.

More unfair than most votes being completely useless entirely in FPTP?

'Fringe' parties are unlikely to be counted several times because the people who vote for 'fringe' parties don't usually vote for mainstream parties. You will also note that the mainstream parties will also potentially have their vote counted several times.

In any case, you either believe in democracy or you don't. 'Fringe' parties have as much right to be elected fairly as any other party.

Hasn't worked in countries where it was introduced. Would only really work if voting was compulsory like in Australia.

Examples?

It isn't even the PR that people want. A half-measure. If introduced, would we then go through yet more upheaval and expense in order to introduce further changes. Makes no sense to me.

Oh no! The upheaval! Do you think they'll be pandemonium on the streets? The smell of sulfur in the air? Fornication and cunnilingus on every street corner?

Is it the Belgians who have some sort of AV system which means that they still haven't sorted out a Government 18 months after the election?

The Lib Dems want AV. As the parent of a DC who can no longer afford to dream of university because of their backtracking, that's a good enough reason for me to vote against.

yes, i am voting.
I'm voting for AV, because I think first-past-the-post is an unfair system.
i think it's the seats thing that gets me.
Yes, okay, each constituency has approx the same number of voters, but so many people go "oh, in my contitiuency X party always wins, so there's no point voting for anyone else". Which means nothing ever changes, because everyone always votes the way they expect everyone else to vote. "no point voting for Y because they'll never get in"
At least with this way, it's not perfect, of course! but it does mean that the smaller parties might get better representation.

and actually, the thing that made me most was the propaganda posters for the No Campaign "he doesn't need AV, he needs better ammunition/armour (or whatever it was)"
WTF? what has fighting overseas in someone else's was got to do with having a fair voting system in this country???????

war not was.

i'm not sure if i'm going to vote as i don't really understand AV.

say i support Party A but would never ever in a million years vote for parties B and C, what happens then?
would i be forced to put Parties B and C down in order for my vote to count?

bamboobutton-

No, you're not forced to vote for secondary candidates:

neilharding.blogspot.com/p/10-facts-about-alternative-vote-av.html

ooh, thanks for the link, i like stuff explained easily and quickly

i think i will prob vote yes, will have to research a little more though before deciding for definite.

In my area you could put a Tory rosette on a steaming dog turd (which they often seem to) and it would win.

I want Clegg to get a slap but reading others views on here has convinced me to vote yes, that and the fact LFN will vote no :o

yep, lfn does it for me too, newwave

(I was going to anyway but nice to have my decision confirmed!)

Will be voting yes. It isn't the best system, and I feel we've been sold short, but it is much fairer than FPTP.

Yes I'll vote. Always do. I wouldn't have the right to moan about people in power if I hadn't voted IMO. I'll be voting yes. It's not as good as PR but think it's a step in the right direction.

this explains AV pretty well

www.guardian.co.uk/politics/interactive/2010/may/10/proportional-representation-alternative-vote-plus

Ponders :o :o

If you work on the principle of opposing anything LFN approves of you wont go far wrong :o

I'm also going with 'if some screaming right wing goon is agin it, I'm for it'.

But struggling with doing anything Clegg wants me to do.

ravenAK, I know how you feel but just hold your nose :o

LFN, thank you for your sterling work on behalf of the "yes" campaign

Daftpunk would vote Yes:

ie anyone voting BNP won't get anywhere in WEstminster elections
most people vote for the relevant red or blue rosette on a turd
there are a few constituencies which are kind of on the cusp

so DP's 2nd 3rd 4th etc votes are actually the ones that will swing elections at Westminster.
she & others like her will be wooed by every party
you red & blue turd voters will be ignored as usual

Check out Law of unintended consequences