What is AV? by ERS

Key report by Electoral Reform Society. | Other resources.

The Alternative Vote (AV) is an electoral system with single-member constituencies, as with the present First Past the Post (FPTP) system used for the House of Commons. The difference between AV and FPTP is that there is preferential voting under AV – i.e. voters rank the candidates in order of preference 1,2,3… instead of choosing a single candidate with an ‘X’.

“For some, AV is a desirable end in itself. However, for most reformers the aim is for a more radical change.”

This paper aims to study some of the implications of AV in Britain, and assess some of the claims made about AV:

• Is it proportional? 
• Is it better than FPTP at relating shares of seats and votes? 
• What are the party political implications of AV? 
• How would AV affect the political culture of Britain, and the way campaigning is done?
• Does AV get rid of tactical voting? 
• Would it block or open the way to further reform?

The Electoral Reform Society’s policy on the Alternative Vote is as follows: 

The Society advocates the Single Transferable Vote (STV) while not opposing those who campaign for AV as the only change they believe possible in the foreseeable future. The Society regards the introduction of preference voting as a step in the right direction, although under AV only a very minor one.

Is AV ‘proportional representation’?

• No. No system which elects only one candidate in a single district can produce proportional representation.