We are incredibly grateful to all of the members who have contributed to this process so far. We’d particularly like to thank everyone who came along to the zoom workshop.
Following the workshop some of the ERS members who attended took the time to give us an insight into their experiences.
Lizzie Jarvis:
“I’ve been a member for about seven years, but this was the first event I’ve ever taken part in, and it was great to meet other members from around the UK, of all ages and backgrounds. The session was organised such that we split into breakout rooms so that three questions could be explored in parallel, which was a great way to maximise participation.
I particularly enjoyed the discussion around encouraging more people to vote, with better (and earlier) civic education being a common theme. Everyone was respectful of each other’s point of view, and I left the session feeling positive about my membership and the work of the ERS.”
Amelie Abass:
“When we went into smaller groups to discuss a specific topic in more detail; I chose ‘how to influence political parties’ because of my youth activism towards proportional representation. It was an excellent opportunity to have my ideas and contributions about inclusivity for the youth and education around proportional representation heard. I was impressed that we were able to write our ideas on a shared document and I felt genuinely appreciated for my efforts!
The meeting facilitator welcomed contributions from members throughout the call, and it was heartening to see a diverse mix of party membership and political association within the group. This diversity of opinions is a testament to ERS’s commitment to inclusivity and the value it places on each member’s unique perspective.”
Hugh Lachlan:
“I only joined ERS following the recent general election in 2024. Not having been a member of any political party or movement I was apprehensive to put my name forward when the invitations for the workshop were issued, fearing my naivety would be immediately exposed.
Despite my reservations I found the workshop enormously beneficial, learning from the “old sweats” who have thought about ERS issues much longer and harder than I have. The input from the diverse attendees was most interesting, it has altered my views on, for example, under age 18 voting and enlightened me in areas I had not considered e.g. compulsory voting versus compulsory registration.
All in all the workshop was a positive and rewarding experience, I felt my input was valued and I would happily take part in a similar exercise again.”
Sean Bahan:
“I have been a member of the ERS since 2020, and have recently decided to take a more active movement in the campaign to implement PR in the UK. I found the workshop to be a great event to meet other members of the Society, from across the UK, and to gain perspectives on combating issues related to the current electoral system.
I was heartened to find that there are a number of newer members of the Society, from across the political spectrum and generations, and all dedicated to providing for a more accountable political culture in the UK. Many great ideas were expressed, relating to public awareness and education, and the strategies that could be used to bring about the necessary changes.”
If you want to join Lizzie, Amelie, Hugh, Sean and thousands of others supporting the team in making the case, and backing it up, for how we can fix Westminster’s broken system, become an ERS Member today.
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