Blog

The latest news and commentary from the Electoral Reform Society. You can also browse our articles by section in the article archive.

View by category

View by date

Why we can’t leave our democracy at the whim of tech giants like Facebook

Another vote is never far away. But even outside of election time, campaigning rumbles on. Each day, a lot of cash is spent influencing political debate. These days though, that’s not just people delivering leaflets...

Posted 25 Oct 2018

We can’t leave political transparency to the whim of big tech firms: it’s time for a campaign overhaul

When an election is just around the corner, there are several tell-tale signs: politicians incessantly visiting factories, thousands of signs strapped to lampposts, and tensions mounting at the dinner table. And there are the flyers....

Posted 23 Oct 2018

Canada’s Prince Edward Island is looking again at fair voting

Two years ago, citizens of Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) – a Canadian province – took part in a non-binding plebiscite on whether to adopt a proportional voting system for the island. Voters – including, for...

Posted 23 Oct 2018

Voting opens in British Columbian electoral reform referendum

Attempts at electoral reform in British Columbia (B.C.) – Canada’s westernmost and third most populous province – date back more than 13 years. On Monday, voting opens on whether to scrap the all-or-nothing voting system...

Posted 22 Oct 2018

Is First Past the Post on its way out in Canada?

Around the world, countries that inherited a Westminster style of government from their former colonial rulers have been, one by one, democratising and reforming their systems. Australia and New Zealand, for instance, led the way...

Posted 18 Oct 2018

Votes for 16 and 17 year olds in Scotland, Wales… and overseas?

What connects people with Irish, Kiribatian or New Zealand passports? They can all vote in UK general elections if they have (or don’t need) leave to remain in the UK. Who votes in UK elections...

Posted 17 Oct 2018

50 years since fair votes’ defence in Ireland

This week marks the 50th anniversary of a major event in the Society’s history and the history of the campaign for fair votes. On 16 October 1968, Ireland held a referendum that would determine the...

Posted 15 Oct 2018

DUP deals and the warped world of First Past the Post coalitions

With news that the Democratic Unionist Party’s 10 MPs are considering voting down the budget over Brexit divisions, the usual arguments are being rolled out about the ‘tail wagging the dog’ during coalitions. For two...

Posted 12 Oct 2018

Assembly vote to extend the franchise is a major step forward for Wales

For those of us who are politically-minded, voting for the first time is a landmark occasion. There is satisfaction in putting a cross next to your preferred candidate and placing the completed ballot paper into...

Posted 10 Oct 2018

Wales is leading the way in building a better democracy, Westminster should take note

There’s been plenty of talk at Conservative conference of how to win back young voters. But so far there has been little policy detail. What’s happening in Wales might provide some inspiration. This Tuesday, the...

Posted 02 Oct 2018