I’m voting YES in the referendum on 5 May 2011 – YES to AV, a better way to elect MPs.

Here are some reasons why:

• Under the old system (“first past the post”), more people voted against over two-thirds of our present MPs than voted for them!  This could not happen with the new system (“Alternative Vote” or AV).
• AV would give MPs a better mandate to represent their constituents, because they would be elected by more than half the voters.
• Under the old system, many people vote negatively to stop someone winning instead of for the candidate they really prefer.  That need not happen with AV.
• The old system forces you to vote as though one candidate was totally right and the others were all totally wrong.  AV is more realistic.  It lets you grade the candidates in order of preference.
• AV would make candidates work harder for our votes.
• MPs already use AV, or variations of it, to elect party leaders, the Speaker and Chairs of Committees.

AV is as easy as 1, 2, 3!  Instead of putting “X” against one candidate, you can put “1” against your 1st choice and, if you want to (although you don’t have to), you can put “2” against your 2nd choice and so on.  The Scots already vote this way in their local elections and the Northern Irish vote this way for most of their elections.

This small change will make a big difference as my reasons above show.

Unlike elections, every vote will count in the referendum – there will be no safe seats – so make sure you vote and vote YES.

For more information, please visit www.yestofairervotes.org or www.stvAction.org.uk or e-mail Tuffin@waitrose.com.

Anthony Tuffin

Chairman, Make Votes Count In West Sussex