Oh, sorry.
Can't call it "Reform", can we
Anyway...
To satisfy the Lib Dems, as part of the Coalition Agreement, it was agreed that we would be given a referendum on whether to change the electoral system for the House of Commons from First Past The Post (FPTP) to the Alternative Vote (AV) system.
The Bill authorising the referendum
finally passed Parliament on Wednesday and received Royal Assent, clearing the way for the referendum to take place on the 5th of May.
Voters will be given the choice between retaining our current system of FPTP or switching to AV.
Under FPTP, voters cast their ballot for a single candidate, and the candidate with the most votes wins. It
usually results in a strong single-party Government. However, it can (& does) lead to very "safe seats", where many people's ballots are effectively "wasted". It is also easy for someone to win with less than 50% of the support of the electorate in their constituency.
Under AV, voters rank candidates in order of preference. The candidate with the most 1st preference votes wins, if they have obtained over 50%. If they did not obtain 50%, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their second preference votes are re-allocated. If this results in someone now having over 50%, then they win. If not, the rounds continue, with the candidate at the bottom being eliminated and their second/third preference votes re-allocated...
The Electoral Reform Society's Guide to AV
The Electoral Reform Society's Guide to FPTP
Q&A: Alternative Vote referendum
Where the Parties stand
Would the alternative vote have changed history?
PM David Cameron's speech Against AV
Deputy PM Nick Clegg's speech For AV
Yes to Fairer Votes
NOtoAV - Against the Alternative Vote