VOTING REFERENDUM

[TrueBlueTerrier]

On 5 May alongside local and various devolved elections there will be a referendum on changing the current voting system. As some of us on here follow politics to a greater or lesser degree lets have a poll.

Of course a polite discussion on the merits of AV and FPP and why you are voting which way is most welcome.

(you can change your vote if you change your mind)

[pinstripe]

I personally prefer the FPP method we use now, BUT Cameron is against AV. Mind you Clegg is for AV.

The sad fact is that no matter what method we use, nothing changes. Can anyone tell me how our lot (as working class people) has improved since 1979. <for our younger members, that was when Thatcher became prime minister and continued the rape of our country with renewed vigour>

p.s I'll vote (in this poll) when I've finally made up my mind.

[DGP1]

We've had PR over here for years so it's a lot easier for us to understand, you just have to remember to vote in order of people you hate the least

This is the way it ends up http://election2011.ie/?page_id=47" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[fishtank]

When do we get our first "Rainbow Coalition"?
I've always wanted one of those.
"The GreenConLibLabSNPUnionistSDLP Government announced last night"....
Not those other feckers though....they don't like rainbows.

[DGP1]

Cue RTE Correspondent: “IT’S A BATTLE ROYALE DOWN HERE BETWEEN HITLER AND THATCHER. WE’RE
NOW WAITING FOR GANDHI’S TRANSFERS!”

[gb93]

Before this coalition I would have voted for AV
But after seeing how the Lib Dems sold their soul for a bit of power I will not vote in anyway to enhance their chance of getting any again.

[Cut Off King]

Before this coalition I would have voted for AV
But after seeing how the Lib Dems sold their soul for a bit of power I will not vote in anyway to enhance their chance of getting any again.

DITTO.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Before this coalition I would have voted for AV
But after seeing how the Lib Dems sold their soul for a bit of power I will not vote in anyway to enhance their chance of getting any again.

DITTO.

Pr would increase their chance but AV will have a very minor effect.

PR means that all parties that pass a threshold of votes get a share of the seats this is what they utlimately want.

AV - just means that untill one party receives over 50% of the vote then that party with the lowest number at that stage drop out and their voters 2nd choice (3rd etc if it carries on) are is then counted.

So unless the Lib Dems are one of the last 2 parties or they get 50% of the votes before then, its unlikely they would be elected.

The one thing I like about the AV system is that at the moment ANY party thats get more votes than the any of the others even if its less than 40% they get the seat so all they have to do is play to their core vote and split the rest of the votes. Under AV you have to receive over 50% of the vote at some stage to get elected.

If you have to vote on AV by who is supporting it then remember that the Conservatives are against it, so if you are voting against it because the Lib Dems are for it then you are letting the Conservatives keep a system which they think benefits them.

[youwot!!!!!]

does it really matter wot system we use as we are guaranteed to get a lot of useless tossers in control who ever wins.

[Wessex]

I would presume that if we get AV we will have a govt featuring the LibDems for ever more.it is my opinion that it is the LibDems who really are pushing for privatisation of RM , it fits in with their ideology and Europhile profile so I would prefer to hear them being called scum as opposed to the Tories !
For that reason I will be voting against AV unless someone can convince me otherwise. :ncfo :vcfo :ncfo :vcfo

[clashcityrocker]

I would presume that if we get AV we will have a govt featuring the LibDems for ever more.it is my opinion that it is the LibDems who really are pushing for privatisation of RM , it fits in with their ideology and Europhile profile so I would prefer to hear them being called scum as opposed to the Tories !
For that reason I will be voting against AV unless someone can convince me otherwise. :ncfo :vcfo :ncfo :vcfo

TBT Wrote:

Proportional Representation would increase their chance but AV will have a very minor effect.

PR means that all parties that pass a threshold of votes get a share of the seats this is what they utlimately want.

AV - just means that untill one party receives over 50% of the vote then that party with the lowest number at that stage drop out and their voters 2nd choice (3rd etc if it carries on) are is then counted.

So unless the Lib Dems are one of the last 2 parties or they get 50% of the votes before then, its unlikely they would be elected.

The one thing I like about the AV system is that at the moment ANY party thats get more votes than the any of the others even if its less than 40% they get the seat so all they have to do is play to their core vote and split the rest of the votes. Under AV you have to receive over 50% of the vote at some stage to get elected.

If you have to vote on AV by who is supporting it then remember that the Conservatives are against it, so if you are voting against it because the Lib Dems are for it then you are letting the Conservatives keep a system which they think benefits them.

[NWpostie]

FPP guarantees a strong government, AV will weaken it, small parties like Socialist Worker and BNP will gain from this, in effect you well end getting somebody who was never voted for primarily, it a bad idea, you just have to look at Ireland Dail Eirean , to see how much of a cluster it is, shabby coalition deals, unstable government bogged down with inner party politics and not actually running the Country.

Scottish parliament is not much better, there is no clear strong Government.

I rather have stable Government however bad over a weak cluster of a parliament at mercy of the smaller parties, inertia would the result when strong unpopular decisions is needed to made.

[Wessex]

Unless I've misunderstood AV the Lib Dems would surely do very well from this purely because of the animosity between Labour and Tory voters, both would likely put Lib Dem as 2nd choice rather than let the ''traditional enemy'' in.I'm still waiting for my booklet to drop through the door to explain it all.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

FPP guarantees a strong government,

Really - the GE of 2010 was under a FPP and we ended up with a coalition.

In fact I saw a political discussion on Parliement TV (I am an anorak ok )where Professor John Curtice said because of voting patterns and that the smaller parties and independents are getting more seats than when the current system and boundaries was changed, and the inherent bias that FPP has for Labour and Conservatives, makes Coalitions more likely now than before.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Unless I've misunderstood AV the Lib Dems would surely do very well from this purely because of the animosity between Labour and Tory voters, both would likely put Lib Dem as 2nd choice rather than let the ''traditional enemy'' in.I'm still waiting for my booklet to drop through the door to explain it all.

The counter argument is that there will be less tactical voting with 1st choices and therefore people will be more honest with their votes and the Politicians will be more aware, because of the count, how their policies are really supported by the voters or not.

For example in Marginal or strong Conservative Seats (converse for Labour marginals) Labour supporters would vote for Lib dems in an attempt to keep the Conservatives out. But now their 1st choice will be Labour, and then their 2nd choice kicks in when Labour are eliminated. This would signal to the winner that during the first round there was so much support for the Labour Policies (and other parties) and would not be able to claim that Labour are a fringe party in their area so their supporters can be ignored.

For me thats the main reason to support AV, voters are more likely to vote for the party they think best fits their philosophy, rather than use it to try and keep another party out.