Terri Said:

What is wrong with the UK voting system?

We Answered:

The UK Parliament has 650 Members of Parliament (MP's) and each MP represents an area of the UK called a constituency.

The UK operates a first past the post system of voting eg)

constituency A:

Lab - 8 votes
Con - 6 votes
LD - 6 votes

Labour MP in this constituency has the most votes by the people who live here and becomes the MP for A.

constituency B:

Lab - 1 vote
Con - 15 votes
LD - 13 votes

Conservative MP in this constituency has the most votes by the people who live here and becomes the MP for B.

constituency C:

Lab - 7 vote
Con - 5 votes
LD - 6 votes

Labour MP in this constituency has the most votes by the people who live here and becomes the MP for C.

The problem with this system is that labour have 2 MP's, the conservatives have 1 MP and Liberal Democrats have 0 but in the total votes conservative have 26, lib dems have 25 and labour have 16 so even though Labour have the fewest votes they have achieved the most seats and the lib dems didn't secure any.

Priscilla Said:

Why do the UK and the USA insist on a collegiate voting system?

We Answered:

The USA uses the Electoral College for President. Many say it's worked and I tend to disagree. However, I don't think the EC should be abolished but modified. For example, how about if we use Instant Runoff Voting? I think a nationwide election would have candidates keep on focusing on the larger states because it wouldn't be the EVs they're after but the popular votes.

But I just came up with a proposal on my own. I read about Colorado's proposal and the system used in Maine and Nebraska. My proposal would be: all delegate EVs will be allocated proportionally according to each candidate's 1st round votes while the at-large EVs will be given to the winner of either the 1st round or last round (of course, the candidates need 50% +1 of the votes to win) in the state. Now, some might say that the House would decide. But what if we consider the EVs of the lowest ranked candidates and distribute them to the voters 2nd choices? This could help the top candidates and does defend the one man, one vote manner. This could be done state by state I think until one candidate receives both an EV majority and popular vote majority. I'm still putting my last touches on this proposal and would like those who have any ideas about Electoral College reform to e-mail me at: derekgorman@yahoo.com. Maybe we'll all find the right stuff!

Yvonne Said:

The UK Voting System?

We Answered:

You raise a really important issue. Is the first past the post system better or worse? It really all depends on the ends you want.

If the end is Parliament reflecting more the makeup of the voters, then there can be no doubt, PR is the way to go. The FPTP system disproportionately favours Labour and the Tories.

But if you're looking for a stable government, than PR can't give it to you. Countries like Germany that have PR tend to have very weak governments because PR gives almost every part seats in the Legislature, so no party has a commanding majority. As a result, the parties have to form loose coalitions with one another, and the policies become very, very bland.

The FPTP system at least creates working majorities in the Commons which allows no excuses for the government to fulfill its promises to the voters. I like this system better because it gives the voters a clear choice, and a way to hold the politicians to keep their words.

Great question. I hope this answer helps.

Francis Said:

Uk voting system- how does it work?

We Answered:

well darling this is how it works:

A person votes.
The votes are counted.
the most votes wins.

Marcus Said:

Does the current voting system in Australia, the UK and America need to be changed?

We Answered:

I agree, when I lived in New Zealand I loved their form of gevernment. People would be represented by percentage in parliment. If 10% voted green party, 10% of parliment would be green etc.

I think a system like this would be able to represent the more pluralistic society we live in, as opposed to being either "democrat" or "republican". I mean because honestly, is it democracy to have only two choices?

Derrick Said:

Can someone please clarify to me the voting system in UK ?

We Answered:

Each area has a Member of Parliament, any person may apply to to be a Member (there are a few exemptions)there may be several persons that are on the voting list usually of different political views whoever has the most votes is then a Member of Parliament as goes to the House of Commons . "Seat" only means that he has been voted in and has a seat in the House of Commons It is a very ancient saying