UK: AV Referendum, your vote?

So, who in the UK is turning out for the vote on AV and what, if you aren't opposed to revealing your choice, are you voting?

Wondered when this would show up here. It'll be the first vote i'm eligible for so I may turn out. 

AV is a crap idea, it's not PR, but it's marginally better than what we've got at the moment. The No campaign is being less than honest and that's what's wrong with politics in this country. When they stoop this low you do have to wonder what it is they are affraid of exactly.

As an Australian living in the UK, I understand more than many in this country how the Preferential Voting system works. In Oz it is compulsory from your 18th birthday to vote. Australia uses this system and there is nothing to be scared of.

The basic premise is that you vote for who you want to win. Then, if they don't gain enough votes to win, your next preference goes to the one you want to win more than the others. It is more representative because, while your first choice might not have enough votes, your next choice may have. It's not a black and white decision between winning and losing. If there are two parties that have similar views to yours, then you can vote for both without compromise. You simply decide between them which you prefer to other parties' policies. Thus you never "waste" a vote ie. voting for the Greens (because you believe their policies) in a solid Conservative seat.

Under the current system if you live in a solid Conservative, LibDem or Labour seat, and you don't agree with them, your vote for any other party would be wasted.

However, under the AV, your vote for the party of your choice would count. It hands back power to the individual. How many times have you said/heard "well I didn't vote for 'em" ?

It doesn't automatically mean that minority parties win but it does send a clearer measage to the major parties as to what the public are thinking. This then effects policy.

It's a win-win. 

Exactly. Nobodies vote is wasted. The main parties may win but it is very clear where the publics preferences lie.

Policy is then structured around this.

Am voting No.

JJLehto wrote: I am against this 100%! I will be mailing in my vote tomorrow.

And the No campaigners will gladly count it.

Dean wrote: JJLehto wrote: I am against this 100%! I will be mailing in my vote tomorrow. And the No campaigners will gladly count it.

Good.

For the mailing address I can just send it to "England" right?

Dean wrote: JJLehto wrote: Dean wrote: JJLehto wrote: I am against this 100%! I will be mailing in my vote tomorrow. And the No campaigners will gladly count it. Good. For the mailing address I can just send it to "England" right? Better follow instructions and address it to President Clegg just to be sure.

I'm voting 'no'. I'm not opposed to electoral reform per se, but this is an unwieldy system that is not a real alternative to what we have at the moment. I would be happy with a single transferable vote (which would make a real difference in marginal constituencies) but under the AV system my vote could (unlikely but possible) go towards the BNP or UKIP, which I'm really not comfortable with.