This document discusses a referendum in the UK on whether to adopt the Alternative Vote (AV) electoral system to replace the current First Past the Post system for electing Members of Parliament. It provides information on what referendums and electoral systems are, compares FPTP and AV, discusses their pros and cons, and considers whether proportional representation could be a better option. Some key points made are that FPTP can exclude smaller parties and minorities, while AV may increase consent between parties and foster more cooperative politics. It concludes that while AV and FPTP have similarities, AV could increase representation.

1. Christian Pontasch, 21st March 2011 Referendum on 5th May 2011 What is the “Alternative Vote“ and do we want it?

2. CONTENT Whatis a referendum? Whatarewevoting on? Electoral Systems Comparison Ourchoice Conclusion Sources Questions?

3. Directdemocracy Express yourview on a specificissue - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Agenda setting Are youcompetentenoughto express yourview? THE REFERENDUM

4. “When you come to vote you will be asked to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’to this simplequestion: Do you want the United Kingdom to adopt the'alternative vote' systeminstead of the current 'first past the post' systemfor electing Members of Parliament to the House of Commons?” Source: http://www.yestofairervotes.org/pages/why-a-referendum THE QUESTION Source: http://www.yestofairervotes.org/pages/why-a-referendum

5. Source: Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

7. Source: International Institute for Democracy andElectoral Assistance, 2005

8. Countries & Total Population Source: International Institute for Democracy andElectoral Assistance, 2005

9. UK General Election 2010 Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8644480.stm

10. THE BALLOT FPTP Voteforoneoption AV Rank anynumberofoptions in yourorder ofpreference

11. ElectionResults FPTP FPTP Voteforoneoption Total Vote: 72,356 (Majority: 36,179) Source: Farrell (2001), p. 58

12. ElectionResults AV Buzz 14,410 Bambi 309 Arielle 1,187 Simba 2,235 Pocahontas 29,060 Pocahontas 29,413 Pocahontas 30,400 Nemo 36,423 Nemo 26,516 Nemo 26,739 Nemo 27,546 Pocahontas 35,933 Buzz 13,800 Buzz 13,969 Simba 1,793 Total Vote: 72,356 (Majority: 36,179) AV Rank anynumberofoptions in yourorder ofpreference Source: Farrell (2001), p. 58

16. Wastedvotes, vote-splitting

17. Disproportional results

19. Increases consent

22. SOURCES European CentreforParliamentary Research andDocumentation, 2000. The ECPRD: Electoral Systems in Europe. Brussels: ECPRD Farrell, D. M., 2001. Electoral Systems – A ComparativeIntroduction. Basingstoke: Palgrave Heywood, A. (2000). Key Concepts in Politics. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. International Institute for Democracy andElectoral Assistance, 2005. Electoral System Design: The New International IDEA Handbook. Stockholm: IDEA Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill Reynolds, Joe, 2011. Lecture: Political Ideals – Authority andLegitimacy. (02/02/2011) Robinson, C., 2010. Electoral Systems andVoting in the United Kingdom. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press Inter-Parliamentary Union/Union Interparlementaire: http://www.ipu.org/english/home.htm http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/elections/upcoming-elections-and-referendums/uk/referendum http://www.yestofairervotes.org/content/ http://www.no2av.org/

23. QUESTIONS?

24. THE ISSUE OF REPRESENTATION Source: Joe Reynolds, Lecture: Political Ideals – Authority andLegitimacy, 02/02/2011

25. Source: International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, 2005

26. Source: International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, 2005

27. Source: INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/parlinesearch.asp

28. FPTP: First Pastthe Post TRS: TwoRound System AV: Alternative Vote BV: Block Vote PBV: Party Block Vote PARALLEL: PR andother MMP: Mixed Member Proportional LIST PR: Party List STV: Single Transferable Vote SNTV: Single Non-Transferable Vote LV: Limited Vote BC: Borda Count Glossary