Local government in Scotland is top-down and distant – but we can change that If there was once a connection between elected councillors in Scotland and the communities they supposedly represent, this has long since fallen away. City halls are often worlds apart from the communities within their apparent... Posted 01 Jan 2019
Building a better democracy – 2018 and the Electoral Reform Society As a sense of crisis dominates national life, electoral reformers offer an alternative to the way we do politics in the UK. The shadow of the last three general elections is cast wide over Westminster,... Posted 10 Dec 2018
Long Read: What’s gone wrong with our democracy – and how do we fix it? This is a time of high political anxiety. No one seems to be very sure of much anymore. Not that long ago it all seemed so different. The twentieth century was a time of tremendous... Posted 14 Aug 2018
The campaign for truly local democracy in Scotland is growing Last weekend – a rare sunny Saturday in Glasgow – around 500 people gathered not to drink cocktails in the shade – but to discuss the future of Scottish democracy: a new vision for ‘taking... Posted 26 Jun 2018
How Scottish campaigners are helping local communities take back power Levels of local representation in Scotland are the lowest in Europe – leaving many feeling powerless. But now campaigners are hoping to change that. Back in 2016, research for Electoral Reform Society Scotland revealed 76... Posted 05 Jun 2018
Five ways we can revive our elections in Scotland There is much to admire about the way elections are held in Scotland. Generally speaking, they are transparent, accessible, and ensure seats match how people actually vote at the ballot box. But that isn’t to... Posted 22 Mar 2018
This is your chance to steer the movement for fair votes Do you have the skills the Electoral Reform Society needs for the future? This year our members are electing the ERS’ Council – it’s the governing body of the Society, with ultimate responsibility for its... Posted 29 Sep 2017
It’s time for Westminster to join Scotland in shunning First Past the Post First Past the Post elections are like trying to peel potatoes with a chainsaw. For much of the UK, people have come to think this clunking old method of giving people a say is the same as... Posted 24 Aug 2017
Scotland’s multi-party system can never be represented by First Past the Post At the close of the polls on Thursday, people in Scotland will have faced 10 opportunities to vote in the last eight years. Of these elections and referendums, the general election is the only completely... Posted 08 Jun 2017
Local democracy in Scotland needs all of us Here’s a fact for you: a quarter of Scots in a recent BMG poll for the ERS said they would rather finish the ironing than go and vote in a council election. While our commitment to neat... Posted 12 Dec 2016