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Unlike the UK, Ireland’s voting system can cope with changing voter preferences

When Ireland goes to the polls for its general election, on Friday 29 November, it will mark over 100 years of elections using the Single Transferable Vote (STV) form of proportional representation for the Irish...

Posted 28 Nov 2024

Ireland's general election will mark a century of national elections held using the Single Transferable Vote

Could Trump lose the popular vote for the third time but secure a second term as President?

Before the last US Presidential election, in 2020, we asked whether it was possible for Donald Trump to again lose the popular vote but win the Presidency, as he had done in 2016. Although this...

Posted 05 Nov 2024

Much like in the UK, the First Past the Post style Electoral College can crown the wrong winner

What Kamala Harris’ nomination means for the American party system

Rob Richie is the co-founder and senior advisor to FairVote, a sister organisation to the Electoral Reform Society. FairVote is a nonpartisan organisation in America, campaigning for better elections for all, working to make ‘Ranked...

Posted 22 Aug 2024

Kamala Harris with a US flag, text overlay reads: “Winner-take-all voting makes most Americans nervous spectators and symbolic participants in their choice of leaders”

Changing Politics: Election reform opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic (FairVote and Electoral Reform Society)

2024 has been a big election year in both the United States and the United Kingdom, and both countries are experiencing shared political trends – like unrepresentative election outcomes, growing support for independents and third...

Posted 21 Aug 2024

Changing Politics: Election reform opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic

European local government: New ideas of decentralisation in a changing world

I was delighted to be asked to moderate the main Plenary Session of the 9th Annual Congress on European Local Government in Poland last week to discuss ‘New Ideas of Decentralisation in a Changing World’....

Posted 12 Mar 2024

How do countries around the world deal with overseas voters?

In October, legislation was introduced which would enable over 3 million more British citizens to vote. Wondering where the government have found 3 million extra voters? They’re the long-term UK diaspora, as the Guardian termed...

Posted 08 Dec 2023

Over 3 million more British citizens might be able to vote in the next election

How proportional representation worked in the Polish election

With a population of around 40 million, Poland is the European Union’s fifth largest member and by far the largest of its eastern states. It is therefore worth taking notice of any national election in...

Posted 26 Oct 2023

Short, long, or in-between: How long do parliaments last?

Regular elections are a core part of any democracy, but how regular should they be? There has been a lot of variety on what the right length is, both around the world and in the...

Posted 25 Aug 2023

2, 3, 4 or 5 years? How regular should elections be?

Campaigning for Proportional Representation: Lessons from around the world (Liberal Democrat Conference)

Posted 21 Aug 2023

In conversation with founding President and CEO of Fair Vote USA, Rob Richie.

Greece changes electoral law, then changes it back

Greece is holding their 2023 elections on 21 May, following protests and delays caused by the deadliest rail crash in Greek history on 28 February. The crash won’t be the only thing that might impact...

Posted 21 Apr 2023