Through the Eurovision Looking Glass: Would AV make a difference?

The international Eurovision Song Contest final took place this weekend in Dusseldorf, Germany and whilst for fans (125million were expected to tune in) it was a triumphant display of unity and talent bringing together divergent cultures through the medium of music. For others the contest will have passed by virtually unnoticed.



Azerbaijan's 'Running Scared', performed by Ell and Nicki, chalked up two hundred and twenty-one points to claim victory in the contest.

Let us look at the current system used. The forty-three participating countries each get to score the twenty five entries that have successfully made it through to the final. During the performance, viewers (known as "Televoters") in all participating countries can vote by making a telephone call for their favorite song or songs.  In order of preference the televoters choices are awarded twelve points to the most popular entry, ten points to the second most popular, then eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two and one points.

Professional juries in all participant countries vote as well. Just like the televoters, each jury in each country then gave twelve points to the most popular entry, ten points to the second most popular, then eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two and one points.

The televoting results and the jury results are then merged per country with each result counting for half the final preference listing and a spokesperson in country reads out the merged results, giving twelve points to the most popular entry, ten points to the second most popular, then eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two and one points.

West Lindsey Votes 'No' to Alternative Voting

Voters from around the West Lindsey district said ‘no’ in the referendum on the voting system used for elections to the United Kingdom Parliament.

Voters were asked on Thursday, 5th May to answer the following question:

"At present, the UK uses the ‘first past the post’ system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Should the 'alternative vote' system be used instead?"

Nationally, around sixty-eight per cent of voters were against changing to AV.

The results for West Lindsey are as follows:

• Yes:  8,233 (26%)
• No: 22,882 (73%)

Spoilt Papers: 150

Ballot turnout: 31,255 (48.7%)

David Cameron: Vote 'No' to AV today

Today is a big day for our country. It's AV referendum day and you need to make your voice heard. Unless enough people go out and vote, Britain could sleepwalk into a system that damages our democracy permanently. So I urge you to get down the polling station and vote 'No' to AV.

Remember, there are five big reasons why:

One - AV is complex. First Past the Post is so simple you can sum it up in seven words: the person with the most votes wins. AV is so confusing that when I was recently interviewed on the BBC, it became clear that one of their most experienced broadcasters didn't understand how it worked.

Two - AV is unfair. With First Past the Post, everyone gets one vote, and that vote is counted once. That's fair. But under AV, supporters of extremist or fringe parties can get their votes counted again and again and again. That's unfair. It's simply not right that the fifth vote of a Monster Raving Looney supporter counts as much as your first vote.

Karl McCartney MP: Vote No to AV

This Thursday on May the 5th, the first referendum in the United Kingdom for over 35 years will be held – on Parliamentary voting reform. This referendum was the primary concession by my Party, the Conservatives, to the Liberal Democrats in return for their support for a Coalition Government last May, and will ask “Do you want the United Kingdom to adopt the ‘alternative vote’ system instead of the current ‘first past the post’ system for electing Members of Parliament to the House of Commons?”

As the Member of Parliament for Lincoln I would like to let you know my thoughts on this proposal. I believe, as many Members in both the Conservative and Labour Party do, that the Alternative Vote (AV) system would be wrong for Britain. It is obscure, unfair and expensive. It’s introduction would mean that people who came third in elections could end up winning. It would make our politics less accountable, and it would be a backward step for our Country.

No2AV: Ken Clarke Launches Campaign in Lincoln

Rt. Hon. Kenneth Clarke QC MP

The Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State for Justice, the Rt. Hon. Kenneth Clarke MP QC is expected to be in Lincoln later today launching the Lincolnshire Conservatives' No2AV campaign.

He is expected to address local activists this morning and address the issue of why getting a 'no' vote in the referendum on Thursday, 5th May 2011 is so important.

Spreading the No2AV message is very important in the run up to the crucial referendum on AV.

Conservative County Chairman, Cllr. Mrs. Rachel Hubbard, said:

"If the referendum is not in our favour there is no opportunity to go back again, the AV voting system will become law immediately and our [First-Past-The-Post] system will be lost forever at General Elections. Lincolnshire is has a huge role to play in helping stop this convoluted and unfair voting system."