What's Being Voted For Today

[sierra_le_oli]

Apologies to those who've been confused by the politics posts recently, in my haste, I neglected to cover the basics.

So, here's what's happening today:

1. UK parliamentary election. Each eligible voter gets one vote in their constituency (Dutch: kiesdistrict). Whichever constituency candidate has the most votes, becomes the Member of Parliament

Comments

[clanwilliam]

While those living down the road from you but in a different borough also had three elections today - we voted for parliament, the council and also for Mayor of Hackney, which is exactly the same role as you've had a referendum on. (Just in case that's useful background for any of your readers.)

[sierra_le_oli]

So how's the directly elected mayor working out for Hackney?

[artela]

Actually, health is a devolved issue in Wales - hence we have things like the right to set our own prescription charges (which are now free here)! Education is also devolved, as are rural affairs (DEFRA doesn't cover Wales).

[sierra_le_oli]

D'oh! I'd just read someone saying it was only Scotland, will correct, thank you.

[artela]

There's a long list of what is devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government on the page you linked to *g*

[sierra_le_oli]

D'oh the second! I plead sore eyeballs (it was the last bit I did).

[bellinghman]

Whichever constituency candidate has the most votes

And you can only vote for one candidate - no preference voting, so it's possible to win the seat on 10% of the vote, with the other 90% of the voters hating your guts, if the remainder of the vote splits into small enough portions.

The upsides are (a) the count is quick: we usually know the next government within hours, and (b) the MP is beholden to the constituency.

(On the other hand, a Single Transferable Vote would still lead to (b), with probably less of the imbalance.)

[megabitch]

and (b) the MP is beholden to the constituency.

Bwahahahaha!

Bear in mind that I am in a constituency that has returned the same man every single time since 1983 (I think) to the point that I am damned sure that he believes the position is his by right.

[fanf]

One of the nice things about STV+MMC is that the major parties have to put up multiple candidates, so you can still vote for the party/ies you like without having to vote for a particular git you dislike.

[artela]

However, the really big show-stopping thing about most of the "standard" PR systems for me is that you are *forced* into party politics - no more independents, and no "one person accountability"!!
I prefer the Welsh Assembly Government system myself which seems to work rather well.

Invitation from ExpatWomen.com

[anonymous]

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