UK Electoral Commission Presents Views on Electoral System Referendum Question
8 October 2010 | Electoral Systems, Referendum
The Electoral Commission of the UK has published its statement on its views on the intelligibility of the proposed referendum question for the planned 5 May 2011 UK referendum on electoral system reform. The referendum question is contained in the Parliamentary Voting Systema dn Constituencies Bill.
Where a referendum question is set out in a Bill providing for a referendum, the Political Parties, Referendums and Elections Act 2000 (U.K.)requires that The Electoral Commission consider the wording of the proposed referendum question and publish a statement of our views on its intelligibility, as soon as is reasonably practical after the Bill is introduced and in such manner as The Electoral Commission may determine.
The wording of the question set out in the bill is as follows:
"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?"
After conducting research and having focus groups and interviews conducted on the intelligibility of the question, The Electoral Commission has come to the view that the question is broadly clear and direct, but could be easier to read. The Electoral Commission recommends that the refendum question be changed to the following:
"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?"