Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill — Clause 7 — Defining the Alternative Vote System — 19 Oct 2010 at 19:00

The majority of MPs voted to accept rules for voting in an election run under the "Alternative Vote" system which allow votes to rank as many candidates as they like.

The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill^[1] contains a protocol describing: "How votes are to be given" in the "Alternative Vote" system^[2].

In the Bill as introduced this protocol states:

• "(1) A voter votes by marking the ballot paper with—
• (a) the number 1 opposite the name of the candidate who is the voter’s first preference (or, as the case may be, the only candidate for whom the voter wishes to vote),
• (b) if the voter wishes, the number 2 opposite the name of the candidate who is the voter’s second preference, and so on.
• (2) The voter may mark as many preferences (up to the number of candidates) as the voter wishes.”

The vote was on if the above clause ought remain part of the bill.

A rejected amendment debated prior to the vote would have removed the text above from, and including, "and so on". Text was to be added clarifying:

• but no preference beyond the second may be indicated.'
• [1] Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill as introduced
• [2] Section of Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill as introduced containing clause 7, page 5, (lines 9-11 are where the amendment would have taken effect).

Debate in Parliament | Source |