FAIR VOTES
Votes should translate fairly into political power.
When people vote, they should be able to see their voice reflected in the outcome.That's the basic promise of democracy. Politics often focuses on who wins. Bigger Than Politics asks a different question: Does the result reflect what people actually voted for?
Why so many people feel disconnected
Across the country, millions of people cast their votes only to feel that the outcome bears little resemblance to the choices they made at the ballot box.
Millions live in constituencies where the result feels decided before the campaign has even begun.
Others vote for parties that win millions of votes nationally but gain few seats and little representation in return.
Many feel they are not voting for what they want but voting tactically to stop something they want even less.
When people stop believing their vote counts
You vote.
You wait.
Governments change.
Yet many of the challenges people care most about - housing, healthcare, living standards and the environment – don’t get resolved.
In many parts of the country, voters and the issues they care about are ignored because politicians know they don't need to win every vote - only enough votes in enough places.
It's no surprise that people begin asking if their vote really counts and why some votes seem to count more than others.
When people stop believing their vote makes a difference, many simply stop taking part.
The democracy we want
Every vote should carry equal value.
Parliament should reflect the choices people make at the ballot box.
And citizens should be able to participate knowing their voice is heard wherever they live.
Choosing a voting system is one of the biggest decisions any democracy can make.
It deserves a process that is trusted, independent and built to last.
Not politicians choosing the rules they'll later compete under, but a process that puts evidence, expertise and the public first.
That decision deserves a National Commission on Electoral Reform.
An independent process that starts with the evidence, listens to the public, examines the options and reports back to Parliament.
Fair Votes is the destination. The National Commission is how we get there.
Fair votes help decide who holds power.
Fair play helps ensure that power is used responsibly.
