Making votes count

The UK is holding a nationwide referendum on May 5, asking voters whether or not they want to change the system of electing their local Members of Parliament. For a country that last held a referendum in 1975, the campaign has stirred up a deep divide between reformers and traditionalists.

The subject of electoral reform has been a hot topic for politicians　for decades, but with both major parties (Conservatives and Labour) supporting the status quo, it seemed unlikely the issue would ever be debated. The only party for which it was a priority was the UK's third party, the Liberal Democrats.

However, when the Liberal Democrats were brought in as junior coalition partners to prop up the Conservatives in 2010, the issue of electoral reform became the deal-breaker to sweeten the power-sharing package.

The strengths of FPTP

Under the current system of First-Past-The-Post (FPTP), electors have one vote and the　candidate who wins a simple majority of votes in a local area, becomes the MP for that constituency.

Former Labour MP Jane Kennedy is campaigning against any change to the system. She says FPTP is a good system which has "produced stable governments for decades."

"It's straightforward, people understand it," Kennedy told Deutsche Welle. "It may not be perfect, but it's fairer than the other system on offer."

The proposed replacement system is the Alternative Vote (AV), whereby voters can rank the candidates in order of preference. The candidate with the least votes is eliminated in the first round and his/her ballots redistributed according to second choices. The process continues until one candidate has at least 50 percent of the vote.

'The system is broken'

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg pushed the Conservatives for this referendum. And thanks to a furiously hardworking team of campaigners and volunteers, it is the 'Yes to Fairer Votes' campaign that was making early ground in the opinion polls.

The Yes people are hinging their debate on the idea that Britain's electoral system is broken and corrupt. A nation fed up of politics and politicians following the expenses scandal of 2009 are keen to see change.

"MPs aren't accountable, they need to work harder, we need to get rid of the 'jobs for life' culture which the existing system has given us," said Yes campaign vice-chair Jonathan Bartley.

He called the Alternative Vote an "upgrade," which would mean MPs have to work for 50 percent support, but it keeps that traditional constituency link.

The Yes campaign argue that people need to grab the only opportunity to make a change.

"If we don't vote yes, it will send a clear message to politicians that we want to stick with the status quo and it will end reform for a generation," Jonathan Bartley from Yes said.

Voter confusion

Despite the zeal of the two campaigns, it seems the issue is not one that is stirring up much emotion in the British public.

"The public know nothing about electoral systems, and frankly, they care even less," Professor Robert Hazell from the Constitution Unit at University College London said.

Hazell argues the Yes team will struggle to explain to people the difference between AV and the system currently in place.

"When the voters don't really understand a political issue, they turn to political leaders who they think they know and trust, for a cue as to how to vote," Hazell said. "But with leaders divided on this issue, and the coalition government divided, voters will be further confused."

"If in doubt, the voters will cling to the system they know, rather than a risk on what they don't know."

The referendum will take place on May 5, on the same day as many local elections, and the devolved parliament elections for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Author: Catherine Bolsover, London
Editor: Rob Turner