United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum, 2011

On 5 May 2011, a suffrage referendum took place in the United Kingdom, that is, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, to the question whether the right to vote changed in terms of ranking suffrage ( alternative vote "AV " Instant Runoff Voting ) should be. Leading advocates for the suffrage amendment were the Liberal Democrats under Nick Clegg, whose campaign goal had been to introduce a system of proportional representation instead of the previous simple majority voting. After the general election on 6 May 2010, the Liberal Democrats formed a coalition government with the Conservatives. Since the Conservatives were in favor of retaining the existing electoral law, the coalition partners agreed on the compromise that a referendum on the question of the suffrage amendment should be carried out. With a turnout of 42.2 %, a majority of 67.9 % of voters rejected the available for selection suffrage amendment.

The British suffrage

In the UK, the relative majority rule applies. The country is divided into constituencies with approximately the same population. In the last election accounted England 533, on Scotland 59, Wales on 40 and on 18 Northern Ireland constituencies. In each constituency, a candidate for the House of Commons in Westminster is chosen carefully. It applies the principle of "first - past-the -post ", ie the candidate with a simple majority in the constituency wins the seat in the Parliament and the other candidates get nothing. In the UK, the policy is not determined as in almost all democratic countries of the world by individual candidates, but much of the political parties to which they belong candidates. Although Independent candidacies are possible, de facto almost exclusively representatives of political parties but elected to parliament. In the previous election law major parties are at an advantage because they can achieve a relative majority in the constituency are more likely than small ones. This resulted in the recent elections there is considerable votes shifts as was shown also in the last general election. Traditionally, mainly benefited the Conservatives and the Labour Party from the previous vote, while the Liberal Democrats and smaller parties such as the Greens parties were disadvantaged.

Political positions of the parties

The Conservative Party rejects electoral reform. This is accounted for mainly by the fact that the existing electoral system has proven long by 've spawned stable majorities in Parliament. Political fragmentation or stakeholders would thus no chance to influence the political process significantly and disproportionately. The previous option was transparent and make the voters simply understandable. Possibilities of manipulation, such as tactical poll were thus kept to a minimum. The proposed suffrage amendment would lead to cost increases ( an argument that is contested by the proponents ).

The Labour Party benefited very long from the previously applicable suffrage. During the period of the 1970s and 1980s, when Labour was on the opposition benches, there were at Labour voices that called for electoral reform. The ensuing set up by Labour Plant commission recommended in its final report of 1993, the introduction of a supplementary vote system, as it was not then in use, but is now used eg in the mayoral elections in England (for example, the Mayor of London). In this case, the voter has two votes, one for his candidate of choice and one for the candidates of his second choice. If none of the candidates of choice achieved the absolute majority, the votes between the candidates are tallied again with the most " primary vote " and that with the assistance of the " second vote ". The candidate with the most votes wins. This proposal was not implemented, as Labour until 1997 was still in opposition. The Labour manifesto in the election year 1997 announced the holding of a referendum on electoral reform to the eventual transition to a system of proportional representation. After winning the 1997 General Election, the new Labour government Blair used the Jenkins Commission. This Commission proposed under the chairmanship of former Labour Minister Roy Jenkins in September 1998 before the introduction of an Alternative Vote Top -up electoral system. This system was similar in some respects to the German two- vote electoral law with first vote for the constituency candidates and second vote for the party list. With the first vote of the voters as well ( ie number 1, 2, 3, ....) would have the possibility to arrange the candidates in order of preference. Prime Minister Blair testified to the introduction of such a right to vote an open mind, however, leading former Labour cabinet members as Home Secretary Jack Straw, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, Chancellor Gordon Brown and Margaret Beckett said, decided against it. As for the promised during the election campaign referendum, the Labour government did nothing, although regional parliaments were established in the days of the Labour government in Scotland and Wales, after a vote of the transferable Einzelstimmgebung (single transferable vote) were chosen. Then announced in February 2010, the Labour government under Gordon Brown to hold a referendum on the introduction of a ranking suffrage ( Instant Runoff Voting ) at. This initiative was justified by the loss of confidence of voters in the political class, given the scandals surrounding publicly funded politicians spending in 2009. Draft legislation of the Liberal Democrats to hold the referendum before the upcoming parliamentary elections, an electoral law with communicable Einzelstimmgebung was mixed with 476 to 69 votes rejected. On the part of the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, the introduced shortly before the election law was rated as a tactical campaign maneuvers of the Labour government. The attitude of Labour at this referendum was divided. The former Labour Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett was chairman of the No to AV ( alternative voting No to ) campaign. Likewise, the former Labour minister John Prescott, David Blunkett, John Reid and Charles Falconer spoke out against electoral reform, the newly elected Labor Chairman Ed Miliband, however, supported the reform intentions. Among the prominent supporters of electoral reform from the Labour Party included Ken Livingstone, Tony Benn, Peter Mandelson, Neil Kinnock and more than 50 Labour member of Parliament. Overall, the Labour MP spoke but mostly against electoral reform.

The Liberal Democrats were up to the 2010 Election continuously in opposition. The national share of votes of their candidates in the elections was the past to over 20%. However, in the Parliament they were never represented more than 10 % of the seats due to the electoral law. One of the central demands of the party was, therefore, from the beginning the reform of the electoral law.

The following table shows the attitude of the major British parties on the referendum:

Proposed election law change

With the referendum to introduce a ranking suffrage was requested ( "alternative vote"). Concretely, this would mean that voters continue one candidate per constituency would have to choose. But rather give only one vote they had on the ballot can number their candidate preferences with numbers (ie, 1 = candidate of first choice, 2 = second choice candidate, etc.). If no one would have achieved the absolute majority in the area marked "1" candidates, the candidates would have been eliminated with the lowest number of votes. The resulting gap on the ballot papers would be filled by all subsequent candidates move up one position. This process is repeated until one candidate has reached # 1 on the majority of the vote and win the constituency. This option would then mean, for example, that in the absence of an absolute majority and the candidate can win, which is in second place, if it is considered, for example, of many voters who have not voted for him as the second- best choice.

British newspapers

The Guardian, The Independent, the Daily Mirror, and the Financial Times supported electoral reform. The Sun, the Daily Mail, The Times, the Daily Express and the Daily Telegraph spoke out against it. The Economist supported the "No", but called for future reforms in the electoral law.

The road to referendum

After the general election in 2010, there was a so-called hung parliament, ie none of the elected parties had an absolute majority. Therefore, it came to form a coalition government of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. On the question of suffrage both coalition partners took differing views. The Conservatives wanted to maintain the existing electoral law, while the reform of the same is an essential point in the political program of the Liberal Democrats was. Finally they agreed to the holding of a referendum on this question:

"The parties will bring forward a Referendum Bill on electoral reform, Which includes commission for the introduction of the Alternative Vote in the event of a positive result in the referendum, as well as for the creation of Fewer and more equal sized constituencies. Both parties will whip Their Parliamentary Parties in Both Houses to support a simple Majority referendum on the Alternative Vote, without prejudice to the positions parties will take falling on seeking a referendum. "

" The parties will introduce legislation to hold a referendum on electoral reform. This is in the event of approval of the referendum include the introduction of a ranking suffrage and also reducing the number of constituencies and their uniform definition. Both parties will bring their fractions in both houses of parliament to support the simple majority referendum on the introduction of a ranking suffrage regardless of the political views that are represented in the referendum, the parties. "

About the time of the referendum, there were different ideas. The Liberal Democrats have held it best as soon as possible after the formation of the coalition government. From the side of the conservatives of the time for the unloved referendum was postponed. Agreement was reached on the 5th May 2011, since on that day also regional elections to the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly Parliament, the Northern Ireland Regional Parliament and local elections were held in various communities in Britain. By holding many elections in one day promised to be a higher turnout and lower costs for the election. Especially the last point fell in the face of the financial crisis and the massive budget deficit Britain's significant.

The first question was proposed:

" Do you want the United Kingdom to adopt the 'alternative vote' system instead of the current ' first past the post' system for electing Members of Parliament to the House of Commons? "

"Would you like that in the UK the alternative voting system instead of the previous " " system is to be introduced in the election of members of the House? " First past the post

This wording has been criticized by the Electoral Commission ( Electoral Commission ), since the question was possibly formulated especially for people with little education and not reading difficulties understandable enough. Then, the formulation according to the proposals of the Electoral Commission has been changed. On 7 September 2010 the bill by the House adopted at first reading with a majority of 328 to 269 votes. A member of the House of Lords, Lord Rooker introduced in the House of Lords amendment stipulated that the referendum should only be valid if the turnout would be longer than 40%:

" () If less than 40 % of the electorate vote in the referendum, the result Shall not be binding. "

" () If the turnout is below 40%, the election result is not binding. "

This amendment was adopted very scarce by the upper house with 219:218 votes, but finally rejected in the House after some back -and-forth between the upper and lower houses. After some further debate the law on the referendum was finally adopted on 17 February 2011. The question submitted to the voters was:

"At present, the UK uses the ' first past the post' system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Should the 'alternative vote' system be used instead? "

First past the post "system " which is currently in the UK " used in the choice of the House of Representatives. If instead you want the "alternative vote " system be introduced? "

In Wales, the question was formulated on the ballot in the Welsh language:

" Ar hyn o Bryd, mae'r DU yn defnyddio'r system" y cyntaf i'r felin "i Ethol asau i Dŷ'r Cyffredin. A ddylid defnyddio'r system " pleidlais amgen 'yn lle hynny? "

Results

The proposed electoral reform was rejected by the voters with a clear majority. In all regions of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, there was a clear majority for the reform opponents.

Statewide Results

Results by region

Results in England

Of the 326 districts of England 8 voted for electoral reform. Among them were the university cities of Oxford and Cambridge as well as several London boroughs.

East Midlands

• Yes
• 50 % -65 % No
• > 65 % No

The East Midlands region is divided into 40 Districts.

East of England

• Yes
• 50 % -65 % No
• > 65 % No

The East of England ( East of England ) region is divided into 47 Districts.

London

• Yes
• 50 % -65 % No
• > 65 % No

The Greater London area is divided into 33 Districts.

North East England

• Yes
• 50 % -65 % No
• > 65 % No

The North East England ( North East England ) region is divided into 12 Districts.

North West England

• Yes
• 50 % -65 % No
• > 65 % No

The North West England ( North West England ) region is divided into 39 Districts.

South East England

• Yes
• 50 % -65 % No
• > 65 % No

The South East England ( South West England) region is divided into 67 Districts.

South West England

• Yes
• 50 % -65 % No
• > 65 % No

The South West England ( South West England) region is divided into 37 Districts.

West Midlands

• Yes
• 50 % -65 % No
• > 65 % No

The West Midlands region is divided into 30 Districts.

Yorkshire and the Humber

• Yes
• 50 % -65 % No
• > 65 % No

The Yorkshire and the Humber is divided into 21 Districts.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland counted as a single electoral district.

• Yes
• 50 % -65 % No
• > 65 % No

Scotland

The 73 Scottish constituencies for the Scottish Parliament were used as census tracts. Of the 73 constituencies, two voted for electoral reform.

• Yes
• 50 % -65 % No
• > 65 % No

Wales

The 40 constituencies of the National Assembly for Wales were used as census tracts. In all districts, there was a majority in favor of the opponents of electoral reform.

• Yes
• 50 % -65 % No
• > 65 % No