20 years since the Electoral Commission was founded, our watchdog needs more cloutMonday 30th November marks the 20th Anniversary of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act. In 2000, just 30% of people had internet access at home. Facebook was years from conception. Today, campaigners spend millions each election...Posted 25 Nov 2020
These US states voted to make elections fairerIn the past two weeks, the flaws of the US electoral system have become plain for all to see. As the dust slowly settles, it’s worth looking at some results that aren’t the presidential race....Posted 13 Nov 2020
Today the government can bring in the ‘missing millions’ excluded from electoral rollToday MPs have a chance to bring in millions of young people to the electoral register and we’re joining with leading youth groups and campaigners to urge them to take it. MPs will be debating...Posted 10 Nov 2020
How Holyrood can close the lobbying loopholes – and stand up for transparencyScotland’s lax transparency rules are leaving voters in the dark about the scale and nature of political lobbying, a coalition of campaigners has told MSPs. The argument was made by the Scottish Alliance for Lobbying...Posted 09 Nov 2020
In both the US and Britain, millions are silenced by a broken electoral systemFirst published in the i newspaper While President Trump looked hopefully at a path to re-election on Tuesday night, one fact offered a little consolation to Democrats: they were winning the popular vote. But in...Posted 06 Nov 2020
When it comes to fair votes, the US Senate is ripe for reformIf seats are ever to match votes in America, the US will need to look at the distorted Senate. While all eyes are firmly fixed on the race for the White House and, if you’re...Posted 02 Nov 2020
Four ways of electing a president – ranked from worst to bestAmerica’s presidential election is the most famous presidential election in the world. The antiquated American system of choosing a president via an electoral college is also one of the worst methods for choosing a national...Posted 02 Nov 2020
How the US’ warped Electoral College means millions of votes make no differenceIn the last five US elections, two presidents have been summoned to office whilst obtaining fewer votes than their opponent. For example, in 2000 George W. Bush won with four hundred thousand fewer votes than...Posted 02 Nov 2020
Could Trump win the Presidency and lose the popular vote again?There have been two ‘wrong winners’ in UK general elections over the last 70 years. In 1951, Labour got more votes than the Conservatives but the Tories won more seats. In February 1974, the position...Posted 30 Oct 2020
US election: Why 33 states have had no presidential campaign events at allFairVote’s Benjamin Oestericher explains how America’s first past the post style electoral college makes vast swathes of the country an electoral desert. This map, designed by FairVote, displays the geographic composition of 2020 campaign events...Posted 30 Oct 2020