Metropol

Objectively I am totally in favour of AV as compared with FPP. My only reservation is the law of unintended consequences really.

I am hugely turned off by the tone of the debate, and don't feel strongly either way. I shall therefore not be voting. Sadly that means I am effectively voting for FPTP, however at least it will register in what I expect will be a dire turnout.

It seems to me that a low turnout is exactly what the main parties want. I don't know if that will go in their favour or not - but their lack of enthusiasm for even discussing the subject is noticeable.

There is likely to be a higher turnout for the referendum in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland than England. Elections for the devolved governments are going to be a bigger draw to the polling stations than English council elections.

I wonder if due to the familiarity with different voting systems in t'other nations it'll actually result in a higher "yes" vote from said regions?

It has been pointed out that today is the last day to register to vote in said referendum at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk

Do we have evidence on whether yes or no voters are more likely to attend the referendum?

I suspect that as sput says, "don't care" means "don't actively want change" means "won't go and vote".

Thing is, I've met a lot of people who "don't care", a lot of people who "want av", but not really very many who actively want FPP.

That, and the fact that it's heavily Tory-funded, might explain why the No campaign has been advertising in more places and for longer.

It might also explain why the No campaign beats around the bush, talking about how much it will cost and how complex it is. Those who were actually critically engaging with the debate wouldn't be swayed by that kind of thing.

I'll get a postal vote, so will make sure I use it if only to cost the local council (who didn't quite understand how to NOT put my Council Tax up) money returning envelopes A, B, C, D, etc., etc.

However, I'm certainly in the undecided camp at the moment. I missed the 'Vote No' broadcast on Monday because I was busy, but made a point of watching the 'Vote Yes' broadcast on Tuesday so it could give me some clear reasons to vote yes to take on board and either agree or disagree with.

It was an incredibly badly made programme and singularly failed to put forward anything remotely approaching a valid reason for so much as picking your nose.

So i'm still undecided and, frankly, not very interested in the outcome.

I always seem to end up living in constituencies where the Tory gets 80% of the vote, so the referendum result will have little direct effect on my personal vote, even if it has an effect on the make up of the next parliament.

My current thoughts are to write "Deliberate abstention" across the ballot paper and send it back. If anyone manages to convince me to actually go for 'Yes' or 'No' before I do so, I'll let you know.

Pete wrote:I wonder if due to the familiarity with different voting systems in t'other nations it'll actually result in a higher "yes" vote from said regions?

The Daily Heil thinks so...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... V-all.html

Mike Smithson, of the Political Betting website, said elections to the devolved parliaments in Wales and Northern Ireland were also taking place on May 5, and turnout there and in Scotland could be higher than 60 per cent. But in England, he said, ‘it’s hard to see 40 per cent being reached’.
He said an analysis of the latest polls showed there was a ‘real possibility that we could see the overall UK result being a yes but with England going no’.
‘It seems almost certain that there will be disproportionate number of Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish electors,’ he said.

Nick Harvey wrote:I'll get a postal vote, so will make sure I use it if only to cost the local council (who didn't quite understand how to NOT put my Council Tax up) money returning envelopes A, B, C, D, etc., etc.

However, I'm certainly in the undecided camp at the moment. I missed the 'Vote No' broadcast on Monday because I was busy, but made a point of watching the 'Vote Yes' broadcast on Tuesday so it could give me some clear reasons to vote yes to take on board and either agree or disagree with.

It was an incredibly badly made programme and singularly failed to put forward anything remotely approaching a valid reason for so much as picking your nose.

So i'm still undecided and, frankly, not very interested in the outcome.

I always seem to end up living in constituencies where the Tory gets 80% of the vote, so the referendum result will have little direct effect on my personal vote, even if it has an effect on the make up of the next parliament.

My current thoughts are to write "Deliberate abstension" across the ballot paper and send it back. If anyone manages to convince me to actually go for 'Yes' or 'No' before I do so, I'll let you know.

*ahem* Abstention.

I must say I have been very disappointed about the campaign for the AV referendum. It seems in many respects to me that it is being brushed under the carpet - Metropol excluded.

From what I have seen the No side appear to be using negative campaigning. This always annoys me. I definitely don't buy the argument that AV gives some people multiple votes.

I can't say that I am a huge fan of AV - it seems a half hearted solution to a problem. Also living in what appears to be a safe Tory seat I can't see that changing from FPTP to AV will actually change the result of the election for this seat.

Changing to AV also doesn't solve the issues of constituencies - and that they are not necessarily fair - though I wonder how they can ever truly be fair.

I would like to see a proportional voting system but I also want to retain constituencies. Without them how can a Member of Parliament be held accountable by us the electorate. This however doesn't sit well with me desire for fairer representation of the smaller parties in the House of Commons.

I think it would have perhaps been better if the referendum was for more than just retain FPTP or move to AV.

As usual, B3ta excels at this kind of thing:













and one for the TX Suite