Make My Vote Count

The campaign for voter choice and a more representative parliament

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I don't think there is a real groundswell for change - Lord Falconer

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Let's Play by Aussie Rules event

"Let’s play by Aussie Rules"

Committee Room 6, House of Commons

Tuesday 15 July   6.30pm – 7.30pm

Public meeting. All welcome.  Turn up on the day or RSVP to

Chair: John Grogan MP

Speakers: Peter Hain MP, Kevin Maguire (Mirror), Paul Smith (Australian Labour Party)

Followed by the Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform Annual General Meeting: 7.30pm – 8.30 pm

Posted: 03/07/08

MVC's London Elections results briefing

Make Votes Count have produced a comprehensive and unique take on the London Mayoral and Assembly election results.

View / download a copy online - click here.

You'll find details on turnout, spoilage rates, the d'Hondt allocation of seats; and systems commentary. But, more interestingly, there are figures on % of votes counting, proportionality on the Assembly, and gender representation. I have included a critique of the FPTP constituency section, references to the SV vs AV and Alternative Vote for the Commons debates, and a tie in with the Review of Voting Systems. There is also a section on MVC's response to the election of a BNP Assembly Member

Some key facts:

  • Turnout was 8.3% higher than when these elections were conducted in 2004.

  • Almost half of Londoners who voted cast one of their preferences for the winning mayoral candidate, and almost 90% had one of their votes count towards the overall result in the final round.

  • 86% of Londoners who voted, did so for a party that gained seat(s) on the London Assembly. Nearly 9 in 10 voters are now represented by at least one London Assembly Member from a party they voted for.

  • The number of rejected votes – and especially wrongly filled in or spoilt ballot papers – was much lower than in 2004. 4.2% lower in the case of the assembly ballots. Voters were not confused by the different ballot papers or voting systems used. Spoilage rates (excluding papers left intentionally blank) for the respective ballots were: mayoral 1.14%; assembly constituency 0.32%; and assembly list 0.38%.

Hopefully plenty of useful information for us all to use over the coming days and weeks. Download a copy and email it around.

Posted: 03/05/08

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