Viral Campaign by The Electoral Commission

We Say:
Talking about Daleks (see earlier post), this AV thing reminds me of my time at University, many, many moons ago.

Like most Student Unions, we used to elect our ‘President’ and National Union of Student reps via the Alternative Vote method. If you voted for a mainstream candidate, say Labour or Tory, you’d place them in first place and, more often than not, a joke candidate second.

In our University that would mean the wonderfully attired Dalek candidate won every time. All well and good, a salutory lesson in politics and no loss to anyone really.

Problem is, what happens when you roll out this loser-comes-first system nationwide?

Yes, you guessed it, the joke candidate gets elected.

Step forward Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

They Say:
Victor explains the 5th of May Referendum