Just had a card to tell me I will be expected to vote on May 5th.

[starone]

Will one of you brilliant people explain to me in words of one (or two) syllables how this alternative voting system works? I am so used to the first past the post business that I find it difficult to understand anything else. And why should it make any difference to the number of (for example) BNP MP's we get. Want to know because apparently we are voting on whether to adopt it as well as any local councillors we need.

[scotman]

Here it is

http://news.sky.com/s...ticle/201102315936067

[ttfn]

Fill yer boots, Star
http://www.electoral-....uk/article.php?id=55
I am hoping I don't lose the will to live before marking my 8 score draws ;o)

[venator]

Any voting system is unfair to somebody.

At the end of the day, our present system puts one party in power.

AV and proportional systems give you more or less shaky coalitions, and possibly a few BNP councillors or MPs.

I'd just sack the lot of them, and have a Government of grumpy old men and taxi drivers.

[sandyRoe]

The votes are counted. If a candidate gets 50%, or more, of the votes on the first count they're elected.
If nobody gets the 50% the votes of the candidate with the least number of votes is out and their's are redistributed.
The votes are counted again. If nobody gets the magic number they do it again. Whoever has the lowest number is out and their votes redistributed.
Eventually, someone will get the 50% or if there are no more votes to redistribute the candidate with the highest number is elected.
I think.

[scotman]

Venator,

As an ace 'Grumpy' I bags Prime Minister.

[starone]

Ah - thanks scotman, now I understand. I suppose some of the elected ones in Parliament at the moment could have got there with perhaps 35% of the votes with the rest distributed among the others and so "lost". It had never occurred to me before. Interesting. I may vote Yes.

[ttfn]

The country is full of apathetic voters - who cares?

[The-HouseHusband]

I will definately vote yes, anything to try and shake up the pathetic shambles we have at the moment where someone can be in power with less than 25% of the votes

[Caran]

How and by who are the votes redistributed

[starone]

Hope that includes grumpy old women. It has just occurred to me - does that mean we will have to vote more than once or will the votes be redistributed according to some rule made up by the other politicians? It gets more complicated by the hour. ttfn. I always vote unless I am too ill to get there and that doesn't apply now as I have a postal vote. Emily Pankhurst didn't chain herself to the railing for nothing as far as I am concerned.

[anneasquith]

i am not voting, as a protest, i dont trust any politicians at the moment

[Canary42]

Just say NO.

[DaisyNonna]

The only way to vote is to vote for whichever candidate you want to represent you. Alternative votes mean that nobody actually wins. The best losers get through. How many people have the time, energy and perseverance to put candidates in rank order? How much more money will be spent to work the results out?

[starone]

It should be compulsory to vote with a fine if you don't I reckon. Very few of the young people I know use their vote and quite a lot of the older ones too. I cannot understand anyone who wastes their vote and they have no right to complain if they have not voted.

[anneasquith]

politicians must be made aware why there is a low turnout of voters.

[Canary42]

Compulsory voting is only OK if an option "None of the above" is included otherwise you end up having to vote for someone you don't want.

[starone]

Interesting anne. I wonder why we are (nearly) all so apathetic. Is it because we are completely disillusioned with our MP's and the Government? I know I still vote because I am always hoping that somehow it will change.for the better.

[anneasquith]

star. imo......... total misstrust in the politicians and the political system. i dont want personalities , i want genuine people who do the job they were elected for. and i see no evidence from any party.

[venator]

Scotman, yes, you are natural choice for PM

[sandyRoe]

If people don't want to vote for someone they could use their vote to try and keep them out.
Pick the best of a bad lot.