Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
On 5th May we all get to vote on whether to scrap our first past the post system and go for an alternative vote system where you can, but don't have to, list the candidates in order of preference.
BBC Radio 5 ran a mock election today to show how it works. These are the results, who was elected?
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
Well in this example it was the Labour candidate with 49% of "votes"
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
Ross, that's what most people would think being logical but it's the first to get 50% of the vote that gets elected, so unless that rule is changed this election would have been void and would have to be run again.
It's an effect of people not using their 2nd, 3rd etc preferences, and the more candidates there are the more likely it is this will happen.
Can you imagine Vic and Alexander arguing over that one!
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
I listened to the debate and found it interesting and even exciting,still thinking about it.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
surely logic would suggest that after eliminating all other candidates the candidate left with the largest amount of "preference" wins even if that is not more than 50%.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
The whole point of AV is to avoid a situation where a candidate can be elected by a minority of electors. This simulation proves that AV is no better than FPTP and may lead to perverse results.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
It certainly will lead to perverse results.
It is perverse to drop the principal of one man one vote for one in which those who vote for fruitcakes and extremists get another vote and another and so on. This is truly an example of how the loonatics can take over the asylum....
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
I do not like polls of this kind,just a few 100 voting when there are millons out there that do not take part.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i don't see a problem once they amend the bit about 51% and just leave it to the winner of the most votes in the final count.
the blues leadership campaigns are not dissimilar.
a bit surprised that red ed is backing it though, likely to lose out as a result.
Unregistered User
Just a little aside here.
The Conservative candidate is Chris Philp , son of Brian & Edna of Roman Painted House fame.
Watty
