Replacing 'First Past the Post' with a proportional voting (PR) system
would be an major step towards better government ...
... but the choice of the replacement voting system is just as important.
DPR Voting is the easiest (and best) proportional system the UK could introduce.
'First Past the Post' shapes our politics. The Government is usually one of two major parties with exaggerated parliamentary majorities. Coalitions of parties working together is unusual. Relatively few votes can have a disproportionate effect. Huge numbers of votes may make little difference to the overall result. The policies of the major parties are shaped by the electoral system. The result is huge policy shifts and wasted government resources. Whether your vote makes any difference depends on where you live. Important voices may be shut out. 'First Past the Post' can distort the importance of small parties (and independent candidates) in the political debate. The result? Short term government policies, not long term solutions to our chronic problems, and voter frustration.
Not all PR systems are equal. Some are more complicated than others.
Some change the way the votes are counted. Nearly all require larger constituencies.
Changing the single member constituency system is cited as one of the major objections to PR.
Introducing DPR Voting requires the least change to the familiar voting system.
Although DPR Voting is a Proportional Representation (PR) system, it maintains the system of single member constituencies, the method by which MPs are elected, and the relationship between the MP and their electorate. It accommodates independent minded MPs and even independent candidates.
DPR Voting is especially suitable as a replacement for FPTP because much of the voting process is unchanged. It is a PR system that addresses both the weaknesses of FPTP, and the disadvantages of the Additional Member System (AMS) /Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) and Single Transferable Vote (STV) systems, and so neutralises most of the arguments for keeping FPTP.
With DPR Voting, Voting would still be simple. Counting would be quick and transparent.
Single member constituencies (and constituency boundaries) do not have to change.
Campaigns and elections would be simple for the voter. Making the change would be straightforward.
The TV Election Night programme would be just as exciting with quick counting of single member constituencies.
Tactical Voting would be a thing of the past. Every vote would count.
For a more detailed description of DPR Voting see here (pdf document)
Your preferred party may not have the best candidate, for a variety of reasons. With only one vote you can't always elect the best candidate.
If we make it easier to elect better MPs we will have a better, more effective parliament... and ultimately better laws and better government.
The 2024 General Election again reminded us of the importance of the quality of the individual candidates who stand for election.
Are parties fairly represented in parliament?
No.
In the 2019 General Election,
The Lib Dems got 3.7m votes.
Those 3.7m votes elected 11 MPs .
The SNP got 1.2m votes.
Those 1.2m votes elected 48 MPs.
The democratic unfairness of 2024 General Election was arguably even more extreme.
If we believe in democracy the result of an election should fairly reflect the votes of the people.
Contact info@dprvoting.org