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Does proportional representation lead to higher turnout?

A healthy democracy requires healthy levels of democratic participation – the most crucial element of which is turnout at general elections. But Britain has one of the lowest turnout rates in the west – a...

Posted 10 Feb 2022

More people will bother voting if they feel that their vote won't be wasted

The government aren’t listening – make your voices heard on 5th February

Join the Elections Bill Rally in Parliament Square. The passing of the government’s Election Bill through the House of Commons last week was a huge blow to democracy. It now heads to the Lords, with...

Posted 28 Jan 2022

Now it’s over to the Lords to prevent the government’s assault on democracy

Yesterday was a dark day for democracy. Despite widespread opposition from campaigners, election experts, academics and civil society the government’s Elections Bill successfully passed through the commons. The Bill includes clauses introducing voter ID, more...

Posted 18 Jan 2022

This bill will put too much power in the hands of the government

The government should stop and re-think Elections Bill as it returns to the Commons

The government’s Elections Bill returns to the House of Commons on Monday 17th January despite the opposition against their plans growing from all sides of the chamber. The bill has faced fierce opposition from campaigners,...

Posted 14 Jan 2022

The Elections Bill will hand huge powers to the government over our elections

How are Presidents elected around Europe?

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

Posted 05 Jan 2022

Does First Past the Post stop extremists getting into parliaments?

If you listen to supporters of first past the post, you might be forgiven for thinking that British voters are just itching to elect dozens of far-left and far-right MPs - with PR just waiting...

Posted 15 Dec 2021

With First Past the Post extreme candidates simply join mainstream parties

Levelling Down: First Past the Post’s impact on regional inequality

Looking at just national disproportionality hides far more damning realities of how First Past the Post (FPTP) distorts the votes of the British public.

Posted 07 Dec 2021

Opposition held safe seats can be easily ignored

We must end the link between safe seats and second jobs

The most revealing type of political scandal is not the one where rules have been broken, but the ones where they haven’t. Where crisis has erupted over conduct that sits very comfortable within current parliamentary...

Posted 26 Nov 2021

Almost all MPs with a majority of their income from 2nd jobs have majorities bigger than 17,000

First Past the Post has failed to give the most popular Canadian party the most seats

Minority government on 32% of the vote is one thing, but it is another when it isn’t even the most popular minority that gets to be in charge.

Posted 22 Sep 2021

This is the fourth post-war Canadian election and second in a row with a wrong winner

Ministers just sneaked out a serious, undemocratic change to our voting system in England and Wales

The government is trying to sneakily force through plans to impose First Past the Post for Mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner elections – a move which would cast the views of voters on the...

Posted 16 Sep 2021