The Power of Preferences: STV in Scottish Local ElectionsMuch talk of the need for electoral reform focuses on Westminster and the goal of a proportionally elected House of Commons. But while the UK Parliament, and almost all of England’s elections, are still held...Posted 26 Apr 2022
Elections Cancelled: Over 100,000 Welsh voters to be denied a voteWith elections coming up across the country, campaigners across Wales are gearing up the familiar routine of doorstep conversations, leaflets through letterboxes and trying to convince voters that their candidate deserves to be re-elected, or...Posted 13 Apr 2022
Why England needs the Single Transferable VoteIn May 2022, local elections will take place throughout Scotland and Wales, as well as in many parts of England, including the election of all local councillors in Greater London. In Scotland, these will be...Posted 07 Apr 2022
England and Wales can learn from Scotland’s success with STVIt is now 15 years since Scotland abandoned First Past the Post for local government elections and adopted the Single Transferable Vote form of proportional representation. What many will have seen as a small shift in process...Posted 01 Apr 2022
Labour win marks over 100 years of the Single Transferable Vote in MaltaSunday mornings may be associated with big-name political interview programmes, but perhaps not the declaration of an election result. Nonetheless, that was exactly what the people of Malta woke up to on Sunday 27th March...Posted 29 Mar 2022
Should I rank all the candidates in the Scottish council elections?On Thursday 5 May, 2022, voters will go to the polls to elect councillors for each of Scotland’s 32 local authorities. This will be the fourth time that Scottish councils will be elected using a proportional system,...Posted 25 Feb 2022
The Single Transferable Vote means every vote counts in New South Wales’ local electionsIn the closing days of 2021, I braved the scorch of the blistering Australian summer sun, walking through the streets of a leafy Sydney suburb and dropping flyers into letterboxes for the Sutherland Shire Council...Posted 07 Feb 2022
Levelling Down: First Past the Post’s impact on regional inequalityLooking 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
What is the ideal number of MPs per constituency in proportional representation?When choosing a proportional voting system, one of the most important decisions is the number of MPs each constituency elects – its ‘district magnitude.Posted 26 Nov 2021
Labour and Plaid Cymru deal is a big step forward for Wales’ democracyThis week saw a historic moment in Wales. Standing on the steps of the Senedd on Monday afternoon, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford and Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price announced The Co-operation Agreement, setting out...Posted 23 Nov 2021