ELECTORAL REFORM NEEDED TO IMPROVE TURNOUT AND ENHANCE DEMOCRACY

ELECTORAL REFORM NEEDED TO IMPROVE TURNOUT AND ENHANCE DEMOCRACY

Switching to a Single Transferable Vote (STV) system will boost turnout at local elections in England and Wales, argues a pamphlet from the Local Government Information Unit.

It includes a 10-point action plan to improve local election turnout and encourage the selection of more diverse candidates.

LGIU policy analyst Jo Dungey said:

'While the change to STV is contentious and will not be supported by everyone, it is a debate local government must have as part of the need for democratic renewal at local level'.

A new voting system would encourage existing political parties to move away from targeting a small section of the electorate and pressure them to seek every vote.

'By enhancing the range of choice, it would enliven the democratic debate about the future of the places where people live,' Ms Dungey said.

'Democracy Day' describes the changes which took place in Scotland with the introduction of STV and summarises the arguments for and against change.

The pamphlet makes clear that changing the voting system will not transform local democracy in itself, and therefore other actions in the 10-point plan include allowing local control over taxes and budgets and lowering the legal voting age to 16.

Policy & politics