Thread: The CF Referendum on Electoral Reform
View Single Post
Old 18-02-2011, 22:31   #2
Matth
Inactive
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Services: BB:M, TV:XL, Phone:M, Loyalty
Posts: 2,516
Matth has reached the bronze age
Matth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze ageMatth has reached the bronze age
Re: The CF Referendum on Electoral Reform
AV is good for one thing only, voting AGAINST a particular choice, by alt-voting your least worst alternatives.

It helps avoid "divided opposition".

But, it's a miserable halfway solution compared to Proportional Representation, and the London assembly has shown you can combine local direct representation with a proportional system.

I mean, it would be incredible if AV actually returned any more of the minority parties, though it would eliminate the "voting for X is a wasted vote" issue.

The main AV block votes will clearly be.
1. Dont want the conservatives - Labour + Libdem
2. Don't want labour - Conservative + Libdem
3. Centre-left - Libdem + Labour
4. Centre-right - Libdem + Conservative

The key issue, if the "3rd horse" alternative votes favour what would have been the second choice, then it could overturn the FPTP result.
In practice, safe seats are probably still going to be safe, marginals will still be marginal.
Matth is offline