The arguments in this referendum have been framed around whether a Yes vote damages David Cameron or a No vote damages Nick Clegg. It is about something more. I want to take, head on, the fear designed to appeal to Labour supporters: that a Yes vote in this referendum will be seen as a vindication of Nick Clegg.
I know this referendum is far harder to win because of Nick Clegg's broken promises. But we can't reduce the second referendum in British political history to a verdict on one man. The change to the alternative vote deserves our support because it is fairer and because it encourages a better politics. The British people know that the state of our politics is badly broken. Many see Westminster as remote and out of touch. Politicians should never feel safe or insulated from those they represent.
That's what I want to change. AV referendum: Everything you need to know. All the details on the referendum for introducing the alternative vote in Westminster elections Pros and cons Who is winning the argument. David Cameron listens as John Reid speaks against the alternative vote system at a campaign event in London. What is the current system? What is the alternative vote? Is AV the same as proportional representation? Do you have to choose more than one candidate under AV?
You can vote just for one if you choose to. Where else is AV used? Why AV? When is the referendum? Who is eligible to vote? What are the pros and cons of AV? Those against AV argue: First past the post is the fairest system because it is based on the principle of one person, one vote.
It takes longer to count. Allegra Stratton has stress-tested the two campaigns' claims So who's for and who's against? Anti-AV campaigners say the current system generally leads to stable government and has historically reflected the will of the public, in that unpopular governments have been voted out. They argue that first-past-the-post is straightforward and easy to understand. They say parties get elected on a manifesto and are expected to implement it, while, under other systems more likely to produce indecisive outcomes, the government is decided after the election by horse-trading and political fixes with manifesto pledges being ditched and promises broken.
Their views reflect the positions of most of their MPs and activists. Labour leader Ed Miliband is campaigning for a yes vote in the referendum but his party is split on the issue. Here's a party-by-party guide.
Should the 'alternative vote' system be used instead'? Yes or no? The Yes campaign has accused its rivals of "lies", saying the claims are largely based on the alleged cost of introducing electronic counting machines and that these are not required for AV elections.
The referendum is overseen by the Electoral Commission. Votes will begin to be counted at BST on 6 May, the day after the poll. The outcome of the referendum is expected to be known later that evening.
Australia is the only major democracy to use the same type of AV system as the one being proposed for the UK, but voting is compulsory there. Labour leader Ed Miliband is campaigning for a yes vote in the referendum but his party is split on the issue. Here's a party-by-party guide.
Should the 'alternative vote' system be used instead'? Yes or no? The Yes campaign has accused its rivals of "lies", saying the claims are largely based on the alleged cost of introducing electronic counting machines and that these are not required for AV elections. The referendum is overseen by the Electoral Commission. Votes will begin to be counted at BST on 6 May, the day after the poll.
The outcome of the referendum is expected to be known later that evening. Australia is the only major democracy to use the same type of AV system as the one being proposed for the UK, but voting is compulsory there. Papua New Guinea and Fiji also use AV - but most democracies use versions of proportional representation or first-past-the-post. But in order to get engaged, the issue will need to be made interesting and accessible. It can, however, be done.
A campaign for political reform in the run up to the election used cakes iced as pie charts to demonstrate the different results under first past the post and Proportional Representation, and took to the streets to discuss the issue with passing shoppers.
This facebook app allows users to test out how AV would work on by voting on questions and following how the results were calculated. The first role for deliberation is to interrogate the facts.
We need to demand that they explain these claims in more detail, and examine the evidence drawing on experts in the field and international case studies. There are undoubtedly good arguments for both sides, and deciding which to go for will depend on examining our personal values, what kind of democracy we want to live in and interrogating the criteria on which we weigh up the pros and cons. This is the second role for deliberation, and the most urgent reason why we need such a dramatic shift to a better quality of conversation.
Involve does not have a view on the content of the referendum, but we do have strong views on the process.
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