Motorists, Equity & Unity Party
Opinion Column Archives
No.l l An Alternative means of determining election results based on percentages
***** The 2005 General Election in the UK has raised the issue of fair representation once again with so many close results.
*****The Motorists, Equity & Unity Party feel that the PR system is too complicated and, witnessing the effects of this system in other countries appears to cause great difficulties in the passing of legislation. The priority is that the candidates with the most votes should represent their constituencies, but, where there is a close contest between two candidates half the electorate are obliged to be represented by a candidate or party with policies that they aren’t in agreement with.
***** It is for this reason that the Motorists, Equity & Unity Party are suggesting the following amendments to our voting system which would help to remove some of the anomalies that our first past the post system produces.
*****The Motorists, Equity & Unity Party feel that the PR system is too complicated and, witnessing the effects of this system in other countries appears to cause great difficulties in the passing of legislation. The priority is that the candidates with the most votes should represent their constituencies, but, where there is a close contest between two candidates half the electorate are obliged to be represented by a candidate or party with policies that they aren’t in agreement with.
***** It is for this reason that the Motorists, Equity & Unity Party are suggesting the following amendments to our voting system which would help to remove some of the anomalies that our first past the post system produces.
1. Any Candidate that receives 45% of the total vote would be automatically returned to Parliament.
2. In the rare cases where there are only two candidates standing and each receives at least 45% of the vote, both would be returned to Parliament.
3. Where no candidate receives 45% of the vote, all candidates that received at least 30% of the vote would be included in a “Second Ballot” based on the voters second choice. This second choice would automatically be one of the three main parties. For example, if an elector voted for a minor party as their first choice, their second choice would be either the Conservative, Labour or a Libdem candidate (Elections held in England). If an elector voted for one of the main parties as their first choice it would be legitimate to vote for the same party as their second choice. If, after the “Second Ballot” there is only one candidate with 30% or more of the vote that candidate would be returned to parliament as if they had received the 45% share of the vote.
4. If, after the “Second Ballot” two candidates accumulate the minimum 45% of the ballot they would both be returned to parliament.
5. Should there be the situation where three parties each have more than 30% of the votes cast then all three would contest the “Second Ballot”.
*****With this system, where there is a small margin between two candidates it would be fairer for that constituency that they have two MP’s. The result will have been decided by a clear 45% in the first ballot or a majority vote in the second ballot when voters may have been undecided, possibly voting tactically or for an unsuccessful minor party candidate. The argument about wasted votes will have been tackled by enabling Other Parties second choice to influence the outcome of the election; the chosen Party may well achieve the necessary 45% qualifying share of the vote.
***The voting form would have the standard boxes for each candidate with their party logo and there would be three boxes on the form (top right) clearly labelled “Second Ballot” where the voter would cross the Red “LAB”, or Blue “CON” or Yellow “LIB”. In the case where the second ballot becomes necessary the count would be completed with the minimum amount of difficulty with the clearly marked “Second Ballot” entries. Obviously, if the election is in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland then the 3 Parties that received the most votes at the previous election would be available as the ‘second choice’.
2. In the rare cases where there are only two candidates standing and each receives at least 45% of the vote, both would be returned to Parliament.
3. Where no candidate receives 45% of the vote, all candidates that received at least 30% of the vote would be included in a “Second Ballot” based on the voters second choice. This second choice would automatically be one of the three main parties. For example, if an elector voted for a minor party as their first choice, their second choice would be either the Conservative, Labour or a Libdem candidate (Elections held in England). If an elector voted for one of the main parties as their first choice it would be legitimate to vote for the same party as their second choice. If, after the “Second Ballot” there is only one candidate with 30% or more of the vote that candidate would be returned to parliament as if they had received the 45% share of the vote.
4. If, after the “Second Ballot” two candidates accumulate the minimum 45% of the ballot they would both be returned to parliament.
5. Should there be the situation where three parties each have more than 30% of the votes cast then all three would contest the “Second Ballot”.
*****With this system, where there is a small margin between two candidates it would be fairer for that constituency that they have two MP’s. The result will have been decided by a clear 45% in the first ballot or a majority vote in the second ballot when voters may have been undecided, possibly voting tactically or for an unsuccessful minor party candidate. The argument about wasted votes will have been tackled by enabling Other Parties second choice to influence the outcome of the election; the chosen Party may well achieve the necessary 45% qualifying share of the vote.
***The voting form would have the standard boxes for each candidate with their party logo and there would be three boxes on the form (top right) clearly labelled “Second Ballot” where the voter would cross the Red “LAB”, or Blue “CON” or Yellow “LIB”. In the case where the second ballot becomes necessary the count would be completed with the minimum amount of difficulty with the clearly marked “Second Ballot” entries. Obviously, if the election is in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland then the 3 Parties that received the most votes at the previous election would be available as the ‘second choice’.
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