Do you care that your vote wont count?

[Rioja]

But under the PR system used in the Euro elections people wouldn't even know who the candidates are as they would be choosing from a party list!

 

There are many types of PR, the list system being possibly the least democratic of them all.

[Stoatwobbler]

There are many types of PR, the list system being possibly the least democratic of them all.

 

But I don't see the people blathering on about how wonderful PR is wanting to get the Euro election system changed. There's no way that rotten system is in any way preferable to FPTP.

[PC Brigade]

Which is why the Single Transferable Vote would be a better option.

 

Voters would select candidates from a list in order of preference, and seats would be divided accordingly.

[Stormy]

Of the 5 Sheffield constituencies 4 are Labour, and 1 is Lib Dem - with the possible exception of Sheffield Central going to the Lib Dems this is not going to change.

 

What is clear is that none of the 5 are going to return a Tory MP in this election. This is because of the way the First Past the post system works.

 

On May 6th what is the motivation for would-be Tory supporters to make the effort to go and vote when they know it isn't going to have any impact on the outcome?

 

Of the three main parties only the Lib Dems want to introduce a proportional voting system, where the number of MPs more accurately reflects the number of votes. Labour wants to try the AV system (which is no more proportional than FPTP), and the Tories want no change to the electoral system.

 

So Tories - do you care that your vote isn't going to count in Sheffield, and if you do, why do you support a party that is happy for it to stay that way?

 

The only way one vote will "count" is if the constitutiency declares a "draw" with two candidates with equal votes. Which wont happen.

 

One important thing to bear in mind is that there is growing popularity around an idea whereby parties are funded by the taxpayer (no large donations) with funds decided by amount of votes (for example, 50p per vote.) So if you vote for a party and this idea comes in, your vote will be converted into a small fund.

 

Another thing to remember is that if you vote for a smaller party it will

a) send a message to the main parties

b) it might just help that party to keep hold of their deposit in that area.

 

So technically no vote will be a deciding vote, but that doesn't mean it wont be important.

If you hate the 3 old parties, have a look at the smaller parties fielding candidates in Sheffield, do them a favour and give them your vote.

[Cyclone]

No single vote can ever be considered the deciding vote, so the idea that your vote doesn't count just because you're not voting for the winning side is idiocy.

 

That said, our electoral system is long due a change, it's plain to see that FPTP is not very democratic or fair.

It's a shame that there was no political will to change it to a single transferable vote before this election.

Of course it suits labour and the conservatives to use FPTP despite what they might have said.

[LibertyBell]

Of the 5 Sheffield constituencies 4 are Labour, and 1 is Lib Dem - with the possible exception of Sheffield Central going to the Lib Dems this is not going to change.

 

What is clear is that none of the 5 are going to return a Tory MP in this election. This is because of the way the First Past the post system works.

 

On May 6th what is the motivation for would-be Tory supporters to make the effort to go and vote when they know it isn't going to have any impact on the outcome?

 

Of the three main parties only the Lib Dems want to introduce a proportional voting system, where the number of MPs more accurately reflects the number of votes. Labour wants to try the AV system (which is no more proportional than FPTP), and the Tories want no change to the electoral system.

 

So Tories - do you care that your vote isn't going to count in Sheffield, and if you do, why do you support a party that is happy for it to stay that way?

 

 

plus the electoral boundaries across the whole country discriminate against the tories.........good

[GordonBennet]

Even if we had a fair electoral system it wouldn't make any difference. As soon as they get to Westminster the power corrupts them and even those MPs who start with honourable intentions forget them as soon as they get their snouts in the trough!

[Aries22]

I do remember Labour changing the boundaries, so that Labour had the best chance of winning. I say vote for anyone rather than Tory or Labour.

[LibertyBell]

Even if we had a fair electoral system it wouldn't make any difference. As soon as they get to Westminster the power corrupts them and even those MPs who start with honourable intentions forget them as soon as they get their snouts in the trough!

 

Ooh, you cynic you. (probably right though in many cases). Surely though a PR system would encourage more people to take an interest and parliament would then become more representative of the country's political preferences.

[crookesey]

Don't vote, you will only encourage the lying, thieving scroats.

 

Seriously though, just vote with the courage of your own convictions, or don't bother, no vote is wasted, don't listen to all that tactical crap, do what you want to do.