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14 Million Voters Are In Seats That Haven’t Changed Hands Since WW2. Here’s Why

Nearly 14 million voters are in seats that have not changed party hands since the Second World War, according to new research by the Electoral Reform Society. Taking into account equivalent predecessor seats, some seats have...

Posted 09 Dec 2019

Huge parts of this country are effectively competition-free zones

What does the Electoral Commission do?

The Electoral Commission is an independent body established in 2001. Its mandate is limited by what is set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (PPERA) 2000 and subsequent amendments. The Electoral Commission...

Posted 09 Dec 2019

The Electoral Commission is not an all-encompassing democracy watchdog

What is proportional representation?

Lots of people think the way we vote in the UK isn’t fair. They want something called proportional representation. But what does that mean? There are lots of different ways to decide who gets to...

Posted 06 Dec 2019

With PR, the number of MPs in parliament are ‘in proportion’ to the votes cast

What can we learn from Canada’s Leaders’ Debate Commission?

This election’s televised leaders debates have taken place against a backdrop of endless rows over who should be allowed to take part, in what has become a recurring feature of our election campaigns. Arguments over...

Posted 04 Dec 2019

Is this the ‘hold your nose’ election? Record-breaking numbers set to vote tactically

Polling from BMG research for the Electoral Reform Society has revealed that a record-breaking 30% of the public plan to vote ‘tactically’ in the next General Election. Tactical voting occurs when voters choose the best-positioned...

Posted 04 Dec 2019

Record-breaking 30% of the public plan to vote ‘tactically’ in the General Election

Democracy Day: On December 5th, it’s time to break the silence on political reform

Few would say with honesty that Westminster is working. So it’s time to talk about how to change it. The Electoral Reform Society – along with other democracy organisations – are calling for December 5th...

Posted 02 Dec 2019

STV: a 200-year quest for fair voting

This December, the UK we will be voting in yet another general election using First Past the Post – a system where one party can gain an overall majority of seats with only 35% to...

Posted 27 Nov 2019

Google starts to open up on political ads – but who’s setting the rules?

New rules have just come into force at Google, banning political ads which target the public based on their political affiliations. (Targeting on the basis of age, gender and general location will be allowed to...

Posted 26 Nov 2019

Time is nearly out to register to vote. Don’t be silenced this election

The election is fast approaching: and it’s time to bring the ‘missing millions’ currently not on the electoral roll into the fold. If you aren’t on the register, your voice won’t be heard. With only...

Posted 25 Nov 2019

What happens at the Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland?

On Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th October, The Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland kicked off at the Grosvenor Hotel in Edinburgh, with one hundred people from across the country meeting for the first time. The Assembly...

Posted 25 Nov 2019