Articles and Insights

Accessible commentary and insights from the Electoral Reform Society, on the issues shaping our democracy.

Featured Articles Latest Insights Polling & Public Opinion The Basics of First Past the Post Speaking up for Voters How our Country Works Global Perspectives

Featured Articles

The main stories selected by the Electoral Reform Society's team.

Electoral Reform in Westminster

Frontrunners declaring for proportional representation crystallises the growing support in the Labour Party

June 3, 2026

We have seen a number of events in recent days that have crystallised the long build-up of momentum in the Labour Party for proportional representation. Firstly, over the weekend, Andy Burnham, who, if he wins the Makerfield by-election, is considered the frontrunner to be the next Labour leader, restated his support for scrapping First Past the Post (FPTP) for Westminster and moving to a proportional system.

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Support for proportional representation has been steadily growing in Labour
English Local Democracy

Voters in English local elections deserve better than First Past the Post

May 12, 2026

The votes from last week’s local council elections across England have now been counted, and one thing is clear: First Past the Post is yet again failing to reflect voters’ views on who should run their local council. People vote in local elections because they want to shape what happens where they live.

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English Local Democracy

New law restores fairer voting system for mayoral elections

April 30, 2026

On 29 April 2026, the English Devolution & Community Empowerment Bill received Royal Assent. This means that it has passed all stages of its parliamentary progress, through the House of Commons and House of Lords and has become law, as the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act.

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House of Lords

Hereditary peers have left the Lords for the last time

April 30, 2026

Sometimes change arrives with fanfare. Sometimes it arrives quietly, after years of argument, delay and unfinished business.

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Latest Insights

The latest articles and insights from the Electoral Reform Society's team.

parliaments that truly represented how the country voted
Electoral Reform in Westminster

The difference between proportional and preferential voting systems – and why it matters

June 11, 2026

When is an electoral reform not proportional? That question matters because support for scrapping First Past the Post is growing,...

Electoral Reform in Westminster

Polling Breakdown: What did the UK polls say in May 2026?

June 4, 2026

At the start of May, many eyes were looking towards the elections taking place across large areas of England, as...

Electoral Commission data reveals why we need a donations cap
Money in Politics

Two individuals account for a third of all political donations in latest release

June 4, 2026

This week the Electoral Commission released data on political donations received in the first quarter of 2026, revealing exactly why we need a full donations...

Proportional representation is about giving voters control over their neighbourhoods
English Local Democracy

A council with no overall control isn’t the same as one with proportional representation

June 3, 2026

May’s English local elections ended one-party dominance in over 30 councils, with 64 of the 136 councils now under no...

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Polling & Public Opinion

Analysis of the latest polling from the Electoral Reform Society's research department.

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The Basics of First Past the Post

Discover how we are let down by the way we elect MPs to Westminster.

The majority of people are represented by an MP they didnt want
Electoral Reform in Westminster

Why First Past the Post leaves most of us without voice in parliament

January 15, 2026

We live in a country where each constituency has a single MP. Yet for most people this means the MP...

Why reach out when you can win a majority on just 30 percent of the vote
Electoral Reform in Westminster

How First Past the Post turns politics into tribal warfare

December 10, 2025

Poll after poll and headline after headline in the U.K may leave you with the impression of a country more...

First Past the Post doesn’t care how narrow or extreme a party’s agendas is
Electoral Reform in Westminster

How First Past the Post lets people with fringe views slip through the net

November 13, 2025

Britain’s First Past the Post system was designed for a two-party age. One that pretty much everyone agrees we no...

The real fights aren’t across the floor of the Commons but inside the ruling party itself
Electoral Reform in Westminster

Why single-party governments under First Past the Post fail to get things done

October 29, 2025

For all the talk of “strong government,” the reality of single-party rule under First Past the Post (FPTP) often looks...

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Speaking up for Voters

Read the latest articles from the Electoral Reform Society's spokespeople

Darren Hughes

Chief Executive

Jessica Garland

Director of Policy and Research

Jessica Blair

ERS Cymru Director

Willie Sullivan

Senior Director, Campaigns and Scotland

How Our Country Works

Discover how power functions in the UK.

parliaments that truly represented how the country voted
Electoral Reform in Westminster

The difference between proportional and preferential voting systems – and why it matters

June 11, 2026

When is an electoral reform not proportional? That question matters because support for scrapping First Past the Post is growing,...

Proportional representation is about giving voters control over their neighbourhoods
English Local Democracy

A council with no overall control isn’t the same as one with proportional representation

June 3, 2026

May’s English local elections ended one-party dominance in over 30 councils, with 64 of the 136 councils now under no...

Better local services need better local elections
English Local Democracy

Why we need to change the way we elect our councillors in England and Wales

April 28, 2026

Discussions around changing the voting system often refer to Westminster, yet the same problems that stifle the government of the...

Holyrood’s voting system wants you to be represented in Parliament
ERS Scotland

How Scotland’s Holyrood elections work will work this May

April 23, 2026

The 2024 General Election in Scotland was a one-sided affair. Scottish Labour won 35.3% of the vote in Scotland and...

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Global Perspectives

Discover how countries around the world run their elections.

All 🌍 Australia 🇦🇺 Austria 🇦🇹 Belgium 🇧🇪 Brazil 🇧🇷 Canada 🇨🇦 Denmark 🇩🇰 Estonia 🇪🇪 Fiji 🇫🇯 Finland 🇫🇮 France 🇫🇷 Germany 🇩🇪 Greece 🇬🇷 Guernsey 🇬🇬 Hungary 🇭🇺 India 🇮🇳 Ireland 🇮🇪 Italy 🇮🇹 Jamaica 🇯🇲 Japan 🇯🇵 Jersey 🇯🇪 Latvia 🇱🇻 Lebanon 🇱🇧 Malta 🇲🇹 Netherlands 🇳🇱 New Zealand 🇳🇿 North Korea 🇰🇵 Norway 🇳🇴 Poland 🇵🇱 Portugal 🇵🇹 Romania 🇷🇴 Slovenia 🇸🇮 South Africa 🇿🇦 Sweden 🇸🇪 Switzerland 🇨🇭 Turkey 🇹🇷 United States of America 🇺🇸
Ireland's general election will mark a century of national elections held using the Single Transferable Vote
Electoral Reform in Westminster

Unlike the UK, Ireland’s voting system can cope with changing voter preferences

November 28, 2024

When Ireland goes to the polls for its general election, on Friday 29 November, it will mark over 100 years...

The Republic of Ireland has successfully used STV for over _100 years
Electoral Reform in Westminster

How did the Republic of Ireland get proportional representation?

August 10, 2022

Today, almost every election held on the island of Ireland uses the Single Transferable Vote (STV). Bar elections for the 18...

other countries have powerful regional representatives, Britain remains the odd-one-out
House of Lords

How are the members of upper houses chosen around the world?

January 27, 2022

Many countries use a bicameral political system – meaning that they have two chambers in their parliament. These parliaments are...

There are many ways party leaders and prime ministers are chosen across Europe
Electoral Reform in Westminster

How are Prime Ministers chosen around the world?

January 19, 2022

With pressure mounting on Boris Johnson, it’s looking increasingly possible that Britain could well soon have a new Prime Minister....

2022 is a big year for presidential elections in Europe
Electoral Reform in Westminster

How are Presidents elected around Europe?

January 5, 2022

2022 is a big year for presidential elections in Europe – with the Italian, German and French presidencies all open...

There’s much the UK could adopt from the recent Irish proposals
Campaign Regulation

An independent Electoral Commission for Ireland – A step forward for democracy

January 12, 2021

While in the UK the government has recently threatened our independent elections watchdog with abolition if it cannot be ‘radically...

America polling station
Electoral Reform in Westminster

Four ways of electing a president – ranked from worst to best

November 2, 2020

America’s presidential election is the most famous presidential election in the world. The antiquated American system of choosing a president...

Parliament House
Electoral Reform in Westminster

Does PR mean coalitions? As New Zealand shows – it’s all down to the voters

October 20, 2020

The New Zealand Labour party are celebrating a landslide win, with 49 percent of the vote and enough MPs to...

Parties know they can’t just ignore an area or take others for granted
Electoral Reform in Westminster

In Ireland, it actually feels like my vote makes a difference

February 18, 2020

As part of a series on the experiences of voters in the Irish 2020 election, we wanted to speak with...

At school in Ireland, the STV system was explained to us in Civics class
Electoral Reform in Westminster

With STV in Ireland, politicians cannot afford to ignore people

February 13, 2020

As part of a series on the experiences of voters in the Irish 2020 election, we wanted to speak with...

I was canvassed by one current TD at my doorstep, and two other candidates out and about
Electoral Reform in Westminster

If people want change in Ireland, they can get it at the ballot box

February 11, 2020

As part of a series on the experiences of voters in the Irish 2020 election, we wanted to speak with...

Which countries in Europe use PR_
Electoral Reform in Westminster

Which European countries use proportional representation?

December 26, 2018

Of the 43 countries most often considered to be within Europe, 40 use some form of proportional representation to elect...

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