Wales is leading the way on democratic reform. The Prime Minister should take note The Welsh Government have just launched proposals that could revitalise democracy. But they could also send shock-waves to Westminster. In 2014, 16 and 17 year olds in Scotland won the right to vote in the... Posted 30 Jan 2018
How we vote has to change if our voices are to be heard It came as no surprise this week that the 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer revealed nearly three in five people (57%) in the UK feel their views are not being represented in British politics. It is the inevitable consequence... Posted 24 Jan 2018
Full recall would be a free-for-all of unintended consequences A spate of recent controversies has renewed demands for ‘full recall’ – where ten percent of voters can sign a petition, triggering a local referendum on whether an MP should lose their seat and a... Posted 19 Jan 2018
Wales needs a stronger Senedd that’s fit for the future In 20 years of its existence – through the growth in the Assembly’s responsibilities to the expansion of the Welsh Government and its powers, one thing has changed very little: the Senedd’s capacity to scrutinise,... Posted 12 Dec 2017
From random results to Lords-a-claiming – 2017 and the Electoral Reform Society Looking back on the past year, there’s a strong sense of achievement at the issues the ERS has been able to raise – and we are equipped with stronger arguments than ever for reform. It... Posted 06 Dec 2017
Meet the new ERS Council After a well-contested election, the Electoral Reform Society have a new Council to govern the Society for the next two years. Nearly 700 members took part, with 39 candidates standing for the 15 seats available.... Posted 28 Nov 2017
A chance to do Welsh local elections differently While the Wales Act’s passing earlier this year didn’t come without its challenges, the legislation does mean that a range of new powers will soon be devolved to Wales, including those over elections. This ultimately... Posted 11 Oct 2017
The myth that Westminster’s voting system is ‘strong and stable’ has been bust for good If ‘strong and stable’ has been the motto of Parliament’s First Past the Post voting system, June 5th put an end to that myth once and for all. For the third time in a row,... 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
The scourge of tactical voting A fifth of voters feel unable to back the party they most support this election, according to polling for the ERS. It’s more than twice the number as in 2015. This is a situation foisted... Posted 07 Jun 2017