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Original poster

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

476 replies

easternstar · 31/03/2011 23:33

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.

OP posts:
DilysPrice · 02/04/2011 20:36

Not mad keen, but the leaflets I've read from the antis are so annoying that I think I'll vote yes.

newwave · 02/04/2011 20:42

Not mad keen, but the leaflets I've read from the antis are so annoying that I think I'll vote yes.

And the nauseating poster showing a soldier and saying he needs £250 million spent on body armour and not on AV.

That statement is based upon a lie as AV should not cost anymore than FPTP.

Give the armed forces what they need but AV will not be the reason for them not getting it.

I have sent a letter to the advertising standards authority asking them to look into it.

longfingernails · 02/04/2011 20:52

newwave De rien, as I'm sure you, as a perennial Lib Dem voter, would want us all to say.

LeggyBlondeNE · 02/04/2011 20:54

The misinformationspread by the no campaignis pretty shocking, the latest BNP one included (do they really think millions of people will put BNP first now that there are back up options?!).

I like the fact that with AV people will be less tactical because they can put their least-worst option as second and their preferred option as first. Although it wouldn't make any difference in my town.

And AV is a half way step to STV or AV+, so better to take that half step now, and make the next step in 10 years.

newwave · 02/04/2011 21:07

newwave De rien, as I'm sure you, as a perennial Lib Dem voter, would want us all to say.

"It's nothing" or "of nothing" Context please LFN Confused

I would say to Clegg "thanks for nothing"

claig · 02/04/2011 21:08

Definitely voting yes. First step on the way to a fair voting system that reflects the public's wishes.

Ponders · 02/04/2011 21:12

newwave, I imagine lfn's 'de rien' was in response to 'LFN, thank you for your sterling work on behalf of the "yes" campaign' Wink

newwave · 02/04/2011 21:30

Ponders, thank you for the clarification :0

Ponders · 02/04/2011 21:36

de rien Wink

newwave · 02/04/2011 21:45

Ho Ho Ho :o

Ponders · 02/04/2011 21:49

sorry Grin

HHLimbo · 02/04/2011 22:40

YES! Grin

AV sounds fab actually, Im beginning to like it even more than PR which would let in some loony parties.

newwave · 02/04/2011 23:20

AV sounds fab actually, Im beginning to like it even more than PR which would let in some loony parties.

FPTP lets in the Tories who are fruitloops still it keeps the UKIP swivel eyes out :o

NimpyWindowmash · 02/04/2011 23:26

I will vote, not sure which way yet... but it strikes me as unfair that supporters of unpopular parties get more of a say than supporters of a main party. BNP, Ukip and Nutjob party supporters will effectively decide the seat.

newwave · 02/04/2011 23:45

Nimpy

but it strikes me as unfair that supporters of unpopular parties get more of a say than supporters of a main party. BNP, Ukip and Nutjob party supporters will effectively decide the seat.

This is not true in most cases I do accept however that (for example) labour get more of the first preference votes but not 50% and the majority of say UKIP second preference votes went the Tory who wins the seat.

longfingernails · 02/04/2011 23:46

NimpyWindowMash I agree. If instead of AV, which redistributes the votes of the least popular parties, we redistributed all the votes of candidates placed third and below, I would probably vote for it.

HHLimbo · 03/04/2011 00:10

They still only get one vote. Their "unpopular party" vote doesnt count because it was for a minority party, so it gets allocated to their second choice - their alternative vote.

newwave · 03/04/2011 00:11

If instead of AV, which redistributes the votes of the least popular parties, we redistributed all the votes of candidates placed third and below, I would probably vote for it.

It does until one party has 50% of the vote or are you saying they should all be redistributed in one go.

HHLimbo · 03/04/2011 00:11

LFN we know you're a nut!

newwave · 03/04/2011 00:12

TBH I would probably only pick three anyway, LD (if the Orange bookers are gone) Green and Labour.

HHLimbo · 03/04/2011 00:22

Newwave - snap :)

newwave · 03/04/2011 00:23

HHLimbo

Great minds and all that :o

longfingernails · 03/04/2011 01:02

newwave Yes - that way, if it is a Labour and Tory fight, it is basically the Lib Dem vote which determines who wins, not the BNP vote.

Wyke129 · 03/04/2011 10:04

I think we should seriously worry about anyone in politics who thinks AV is complicated. It's very straightforward, arguing otherwise does not serve anyone well.

That said, AV is not the best system in my view but I will vote yes because I want more debate and consideration of our electoral system. A no vote will, I fear, make the issue go away before all of the options have been properly considered.