On 5th May we have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to change the way we elect our MPs.
Today’s Unfair System
Under the present ‘first-past-the-post’ (FPTP) system, most MPs get elected even though they are not supported by half of the voters in their constituencies.
Under FPTP, Labour won the General Election in 2005 with the support of only 35% – roughly one in three – of the people who voted.
Tomorrow’s Fairer System
Under the ‘alternative vote’ (AV) system, a prospective MP will have to get at least half of the votes to be elected.

AV is a simple system. Instead of voting for just one candidate, you list candidates in order of preference. If no candidate obtains half of the votes, the candidate with fewest votes drops out. All votes are counted again (both the first and second preferences of those who voted for the bottom candidate). If one candidate then gets at least half of the total votes, then that candidate is elected. If not, the process is repeated until one candidate does get at least half of the total votes.
So the person elected as your MP will have won with the support of at least half of those who voted. Under AV, Parliament will more accurately reflect the political complexion of the nation as a whole, not just of a minority.

Under AV, no MP will have a safe seat and a job for life. Politicians will be brought down to earth: they will have to pay attention to all of their constituents.

Our present voting system is not very democratic – it is based on a minority rather than a majority vote. Do you want to reform it so that elections are fairer? The British National Party does not – it wants to stick with first-past-the-post.
But Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Eddie Izzard, Greg Dyke, Honor Blackman and Martin Bell are among the many who want to change to AV. Do you?
Let’s make history on 5th May!     Vote YES to AV!

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