It’s time to vote for a better vote

— Contributed by Scott Wheeler

Almost a year after Britons went to the polls it’s almost time to vote again as May 5th marks one of the biggest days in recent British history. The referendum on whether we want to ditch Britain’s First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) in preference for Alternative Vote (AV) will take place.

So what is the AV? AV is where you rank candidates in order of preference. If a candidate fails to win 50%+ one of the vote the first time around, we then go to the second preferences. The candidate with the least amount of votes is knocked out and their voters’ second preferences are then given.

This process then continues until a candidate achieves the necessary percentage of the vote. This therefore results in second and third preferences being crucial in many elections.

So why change the “winner takes all” system? Simply, because it is not representative of the voters. In Lincoln, Tory MP Karl McCartney got elected with 37% of the vote.

This isn’t unusual. In two-thirds of constituencies across the country, MPs are elected with less than 50% of the vote. Other examples include Norwich and Lib Dem MP Simon Wright who got elected with 29% of the vote. Moreover, these cases are becoming increasingly common because, like it or not, Britain is no longer a two party system.

In 1945, 98% of the country voted either Labour or Conservative. Now, that figure is 65%. However, even that figure is artificial. It is clear the majority of the country is not interested in two party politics. In the European elections of 2009, where proportional representation is used, the combined Labour and Tory vote was just 45%.

So why would AV change this? After all, it is not proportional representation (PR). But we shouldn’t let good become the enemy of perfect. But the good thing about AV is that it should be supported by both supporters and opponents of PR. AV will also encourage MPs to work harder for your vote. Under FPTP voters are coerced into tactically voting – that is voting with your head and not your heart. Under AV, you will be able to vote with both, without wasting your vote.

But some people have argued that AV will mean some get multiple votes but to quote IPSOS Mori: “This system does not involve some people getting more votes than others. Every voter gets just one vote, which is counted several times. Your second preference is not a second vote, it is an instruction about how you want your (only) vote to be used if it would to be wasted because your first choice candidate can’t win.”

It might be dismissed as a “Lib Dem thing” but AV is supported by Labour leader Ed Miliband and much of his shadow cabinet. UKIP, the Green Party, and the English Democrats also support it. David Cameron might not be a fan, however, the BBC recently reported that some Conservative MPs were “relaxed” with the alternative vote.

Don’t fear AV. It’s not an inferior system or as confusing as some claim. It will make MPs work harder for your vote, reduce tactical voting and the adversarial nature of politics. If you’re not happy with politics, take the chance to make a change.