av voting system

[neeko]

AV is a bad system, but FPTP is worse so I will be voting Yes.

[rex008]

AV is a bad system, but FPTP is worse so I will be voting No.

Personally, I believe we'd end up with even more useless government under PR, so I'd vote no to that as well. If we ever get the chance, which I doubt.

That said, I believe that the coalition is delivering better policies so far than a Conservative government would have. Doesn't mean I'd want to see a Lib/Lab coalition in future tho (we'd probably end up with a semi-permanent one if we went to PR, I reckon), as in that case we'd end up with the worst of both worlds. Tax and Spend nanny-state spin-meister Labour, and the rise of the left of left wing part of Lib Dems. Shudder.

[Bongo]

And the scenario I've put is a proportional representation one rather than an AV one (as I think nobody really actually wants AV other than as a stepping stone to full PR)

Is it actually a more likely stepping stone to PR then keeping FPTP though?

[thetank]

My favourite from the #notoav hashtag on twitter.

"It's not a majority of support, it's a majority of meh."

BeccaCTaylor

[Sheriff Fatman]

I'll be voting Yes.

In my entire adult life I've had precisely one vote where I could actually influence the result (marginal seat while at University).  Other than that I've been in either a Labour or Tory landslide seat and it pisses me off that no-one bothers to chase my vote because it doesn't matter.

In fact, the only time my vote has been targeted was the last general election where I had a choice of NONE of the main parties because I happened to live in the Speaker's constituency, where they don't stand against him due to tradition.  Consequently, I was given a choice of Speaker, 10 independents who were Tories under another name, UKIP, the BNP and the Monster Raving Loony Party.

AV might not make a big difference to this situation, but its a step in the right direction for me towards having a vote that means something.

[Bongo]

I don't see how AV would change anything if you're in a landslide seat or the speakers constituency though, you'd still get a landslide or the speaker, you'd just get to vote several times each election.

[Sheriff Fatman]

I don't see how AV would change anything if you're in a landslide seat or the speakers constituency though, you'd still get a landslide or the speaker, you'd just get to vote several times each election.

But it's the first (and probably only) chance I'll get to say that I'm not happy with the current system.  It's more of a no to FPTP than a yes to AV.

If the Yes vote isn't significant in this referendum then I doubt we'll get asked again in our lifetimes.

[Bongo]

There's a group that's been set up specifically for people with your views (I think), and they seem to think you should vote no:
http://www.no2av-yes2pr.org/why-vote-no/

[kinboshi]

[2] AV
[1] PR
[3] FPTP

That's how I'd vote on this. Well, technically I wouldn't, as I'd leave FPTP blank unless there were other choices such as dictatorship or raffle, etc.

[Bongo]

No arguments against PR here but why is AV better than FPTP?

[gatso]

I was telling a friend how I wasn't going to bother voting as I don't really care and normally when I don't care I go for the guy with the funniest name but can't do that this time. he pointed out to me that if av comes in then I'll be able to vote for several people with funny names. for that reason I'm voting yes

[thetank]

There's a group that's been set up specifically for people with your views (I think), and they seem to think you should vote no:
http://www.no2av-yes2pr.org/why-vote-no/

Interesing. While the downside (for those that want a change from FPTP) is that it splits the vote, the upside is that (in the event of the country voting no) they can legitimately challenge any claims that the result means Britain is satisfied with the status quo.

[kinboshi]

[gatso]

is that blue for boys and pink for girls coz girls minds work simpler?

[Bongo]

If that was the case why would you see candidates instructing supporters to vote in a specific order to maximise their chances? It seems the AV flow chart should actually be far more complicated to me if you want to take into account tactical voting. (and if you don't the FPTP one should be simpler).