A Better Electoral System?

As I say, FPTP is a defensible system and so is STV and so is AV: each brings something useful and each has its drawbacks. But why limit ourselves to these options? From a voters’ point of view I think there’s something to be said for adapting the French system. It’s a majoritarian system that would sit comfortably with British traditions but, importantly, it also allows voters to make a more informed choice.

It is also simple. If any candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in their constituency he or she is duly elected after the first round of voting. Something like half of all our constituencies fall into this category at present. However that might change if we adapted the French way of doing these things since everyone, regardless of party allegiance, would have an incentive to vote in any seat – if only to keep the winner below 50% of the vote.