Articles and Insights

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

Around the World | Current Affairs Commentary | Developments at the ERS | Your Questions Answered | Case Studies

Taking advantage of the Greek electoral law

Greece will return to the polls on September 20th. This is the third nationwide poll this year, after an earlier election in January and a referendum in June. It is also the fourth general election...

Posted 21 Aug 2015

Greek temple

The New Zealand Flag Referendum

For many years the New Zealand flag has been the subject of much debate. Adopted when New Zealand was still a part of the British Empire, their national standard has the British flag within it....

Posted 18 Aug 2015

Kiwi Laser

Crossing the threshold – the Turkish election

There was a fair deal of shock in Turkey last weekend as the Justice and Development Party (AKP) lost its parliamentary majority, which it has enjoyed since 2002. The AKP’s dominance has been legendary since...

Posted 11 Jun 2015

Istanbul, Turkey

‘Reinforcing’ Syriza

Much excitement in the European press today as Greece’s left-wing, Eurosceptic and anti-austerity Syriza has come two seats short of an absolute majority in the Greek parliamentary election, allowing them to form a coalition with the right-wing,...

Posted 26 Jan 2015

Greek temple

Friends, Romanians, Countrymen, Lend Me Your Votes…

Turnout has been in the news once again, with a report from the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee advocating bank holidays on election days, votes at 16 and other structural changes to increase turnout. Structural and institutional...

Posted 17 Nov 2014

A true democrat

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Rivonia trial, and the sentencing of Nelson Mandela to life imprisonment on charges of sabotage, and acting to ‘further the aims of communism’. It goes without...

Posted 12 Jun 2014

Nelson Mandela

North Korean elections: The veneer of democracy

This weekend the North Korean ‘election’ took place. Of course, it wasn’t exactly democratic; it wasn’t really even an election. Each seat had only one candidate, and voters had the choice of voting either for...

Posted 10 Mar 2014

Pyongyang North Korea Bronze statue

A bold step forward for women’s representation

Ireland currently ranks 87 in the world for gender representation in politics with just 15.1% of Irish parliamentarians being women. This means in the world league tables Ireland lags behind Iraq, Burkina Faso and Turkmenistan...

Posted 23 Jul 2012

Electoral Reform for Eurovision?

Eurovision is upon us once again with everyone’s favourite celebration of Europe’s questionable musical talent. Certain traditions will no doubt hold: certain acts will be flamboyantly silly, Britain will score badly and after it is...

Posted 24 May 2012

Eurovision