News and Comment

The latest news and commentary from the Electoral Reform Society.

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These US states voted to make elections fairer

In the past two weeks, the flaws of the US electoral system have become plain for all to see. As the dust slowly settles, it’s worth looking at some results that aren’t the presidential race....

Posted 13 Nov 2020

Five US cities scrap First Past the Post and bring in preferential voting

Our top 5 most read blogs of 2018

This time of year, we take a look back on our most popular articles of the year. A lot has happened: But what were you, our dear reader, most interested in this year? Here’s our...

Posted 20 Dec 2018

2018 blog round up

Inside the backbench burial ground of Private Members’ Bills

Most of the legislation that Parliament passes is introduced and backed by the government. But for thirteen Fridays in each parliamentary session, backbenchers steer the agenda. For those days, Private Members’ Bills have precedence over...

Posted 31 Oct 2018

Spooky Commons

The government are using dirty tricks to cut our elected MPs

In the committee room corridors at the Palace of Westminster, the government’s conduct around the ongoing review of constituency boundaries is drawing cross-party criticism. The government’s official response to Parliament’s concerns fails to address any...

Posted 01 Jun 2018

Constituency Boundaries

Seven reasons to cancel the cut in the number of MPs

Six months ago it appeared that controversial changes to electoral boundaries were to be dropped by the government. There has never been a great appetite for the number of MPs to be cut from 650...

Posted 19 Feb 2018

Ministers are ignoring the elephant in the room when it comes to boundaries

The government’s Minister for the Constitution has claimed that millions of voters living in oversized constituencies are being under-represented. Speaking about the current boundaries, Chris Skidmore MP said: “It is an affront to democracy that 27 million people are under-represented.” ...

Posted 03 Jan 2018

Constituency Boundaries