News and Comment

The latest news and commentary from the Electoral Reform Society.

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How do elections work in the Australian states?

Six months after choosing a new federal parliament, voters in the key Australian state of Victoria will be returning to the polling booth this Saturday (26th November), not just in hope of getting their hands...

Posted 10 Nov 2022

The Alternative Vote and the proportional Single Transferable Vote are used across Australia

What is a Ten Minute Rule bill?

One of the most exciting parts of Westminster proceedings is the Ten Minute Rule bill. Here’s a quick outline of some of the key features of this sort of Bill. A Ten Minute Rule bill...

Posted 27 Oct 2022

Westminster

What is a Private Members’ bill?

One of the most noteworthy ways that MPs can push their agendas is through the Private Members’ Bill. Here’s a quick analysis on some of the key features of Private Members’ Bill. Private Members’ bills...

Posted 20 Oct 2022

Westminster at night

What is an Early Day Motion?

The Early Day Motion (EDM) is a little-known but quietly critical part of Westminster. Here’s a quick guide on some of the key features of an Early Day Motion: An EDM is a motion submitted...

Posted 13 Oct 2022

Big Ben

What is a Select Committee?

One of the most important aspects of British democracy is the Select Committee. Select Committees are groups of parliamentarians chosen by their colleagues to conduct scrutiny of the government. Here’s a quick explanation of some...

Posted 06 Oct 2022

Select Committee

The ERS team at a historic Labour Conference

The campaign for fair votes recently achieved a historic victory when Labour Party Conference voted for a manifesto commitment to proportional representation for general elections. This is a massive moment for democracy in the UK....

Posted 05 Oct 2022

Darren’s Diary - Behind the scenes at Labour Conference

What is an All Party Parliamentary Group or APPG?

One of the lesser-known institutions of Westminster is the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). Here’s a quick overview on some of the key features of an APPG: An APPG is a group of MPs and Peers...

Posted 29 Sep 2022

Westminster