Direct Party and Representative Voting (DPR)

First published Feb 2010 |

About this site - www.dprvoting.org

A voting system to replace 'First Past the Post'

Direct Party and Representative Voting is an electoral system intended to reform elections to the House of Commons

A simple PR alternative designed to replace the 'First past the post' (FPTP) electoral system in the UK.

A form of Proportional Representation based on the existing single member constituencies

 

About this site - www.dprvoting.org

dprvoting.org is an independent site intended to inform visitors about Direct Party and Representative Voting and promote it as an alternative to the ‘First Past the Post' system for Westminster Parliamentary elections.

The site is not linked to any political party or politician.
There is no sponsorship or commercial activity related to the site.
The site was first launched in February 2010

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A new electoral system to replace ‘First Past the Post' (FPTP)

As a system for choosing a single winner such as a constituency MP, FPTP is simple and straightforward. There are good arguments for other ways of electing a single winner in a constituency, but FPTP is the simplest.

As a way of choosing a government, it is arguably erratic and unfair. It works best, but not perfectly, for two party politics. It is not designed as a fair system for multi-party politics. With more than two parties it displays bias against third or smaller parties whose supporters are widely spread geographically.

FPTP can produce an electoral result where the party that ‘wins’ is not the party to win the largest number of votes in the election. In addition third or fourth parties are marginalised, so that parties with a substantial minority of votes are ignored. By contrast, a small faction of the government party can have disproportionate influence.

But this is not the only problem. FPTP can result in safe seats. In a constituency where there is dominant support for one particular party, the candidate of that party is almost certain to be elected. This means, in effect, MPs can be appointed to parliament by their parties. This shifts power to Party and away from the MP and the voters.
Another problem is that the outcome of the election, the Government majority, can be determined by campaigns in a few marginal constituencies. The votes in all the other constituencies have little significance.
FPTP infects our politics with an adversarial approach and, at times, the lowest common denominator of argument, and this spills over into policy. It contributes to the twin problems that politicians are held in low esteem and turnout rates at elections are low.

We need a better voting system.

A better system would allow you a free choice to vote for the best candidate to be the local MP, regardless of party affiliation, but also to choose the best party to form the Government, regardless of the merits of the local candidate.

Two quite separate issues need two quite separate ballot papers

A better system would make sure that all votes counted equally when it came to determining which party formed the Government.
A better system would still be based on single member constituencies. This is the smallest geographical unit with the smallest number of voters. It gives most meaning to the phrase 'the local MP'.
A better system should retain the same simple voting and counting that characterises FPTP.

Direct Party and Representative Voting is the better system we need in place of FPTP. It would be a fairer system, giving voters a better choice, and it would be an important step along the road to rebuilding our politics.

When it comes to a General Election, regardless of the electoral system, go out and vote.
If you agree that we need a better electoral system, campaign for electoral reform.

Why do I argue for DPR Voting?
DPR Voting offers more advantages and fewer disadvantages than any other system.

It would be a simple and straightforward replacement for 'First Past the Post'.

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Stephen Johnson set up the website. All comments or questions are welcome.

 

DPR Voting - simple, practical, powerful electoral reform