Meet the new ERS CouncilAfter a well-contested election, the Electoral Reform Society have a new Council to govern the Society for the next two years. Nearly 700 members took part, with 39 candidates standing for the 15 seats available....Posted 28 Nov 2017
A chance to do Welsh local elections differentlyWhile the Wales Act’s passing earlier this year didn’t come without its challenges, the legislation does mean that a range of new powers will soon be devolved to Wales, including those over elections. This ultimately...Posted 11 Oct 2017
The myth that Westminster’s voting system is ‘strong and stable’ has been bust for goodIf ‘strong and stable’ has been the motto of Parliament’s First Past the Post voting system, June 5th put an end to that myth once and for all. For the third time in a row,...Posted 24 Aug 2017
Scotland’s multi-party system can never be represented by First Past the PostAt the close of the polls on Thursday, people in Scotland will have faced 10 opportunities to vote in the last eight years. Of these elections and referendums, the general election is the only completely...Posted 08 Jun 2017
The scourge of tactical votingA fifth of voters feel unable to back the party they most support this election, according to polling for the ERS. It’s more than twice the number as in 2015. This is a situation foisted...Posted 07 Jun 2017
Electoral reform returns to the agenda in British ColumbiaBritish Columbia, Canada’s most Western province, has often been the site of electoral reform intrigue. In the run-up to the 1952 provincial election the Conservative and Liberal parties tried to stop the socialist Co-operative Commonwealth...Posted 18 May 2017
‘Progressive alliances’ shouldn’t be necessary: they’re product of a broken voting systemThere’s a lot of talk about June 8th being the ‘tactical voting’ election. This past couple of weeks we’ve seen the latest symptom: parties doing the tactical voting on behalf of the electorate – weeks before...Posted 08 May 2017
The next government must extend votes at 16 beyond ScotlandYou might not have realised, but on Thursday, thousands of 16 and 17 year olds trekked to polling stations across the country to exercise their democratic right to vote. They went with the full support...Posted 05 May 2017
Democracy, Diversity and English DevolutionThe excitement of the general election aside, it’s important to remember that there are other important elections coming up – ones that have gone largely under the national radar. As well as important local elections...Posted 19 Apr 2017
An exciting time to join ERS CymruAs she joins us as the new Director of ERS Cymru, Jess Blair sets out the challenges and opportunities for deepening Welsh democracy. In the last twelve months the political landscape across the world has...Posted 14 Mar 2017