tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373451344442489822.post8971573994787354544..comments2012-10-18T20:32:32.854+01:00Comments on Barbarian Politics: Ballot Paper ConfusionBarbarian of the Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09546237341963301419noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373451344442489822.post-72973435720322817382012-04-11T20:09:47.866+01:002012-04-11T20:09:47.866+01:00Craig, I'm speaking from professional experien...Craig, I'm speaking from professional experience of designing forms which are used to collate data. When designing a system, you aim for the lowest common denominator - in this case, the ability to understand the form. <br /><br />My concern is that the voters are simply not used to STV. Last year's elections were simply selecting a couple of candidates, and Westminster's was the old cross in the box. Now they are being asked to use numbers. <br /><br />I'm not criticising the voting system, merely highlighting the potential for a high percentage of failed ballot papers, which can be crucial to whether a party wins a seat or not.<br /><br />And to vote, you do not need to be literate or numerate. This is a democracy.Barbarian of the Northhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09546237341963301419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373451344442489822.post-54789506413914874132012-04-11T00:11:15.579+01:002012-04-11T00:11:15.579+01:00Quite frankly, the Mixed Member Plurality system u...Quite frankly, the Mixed Member Plurality system used in Holyrood elections is more complex to explain to the average voter than Single Transferable Vote. It's a common myth that STV is too complicated for the electorate to understand, which conveniently ignores the fact that all of the intricacies take place AFTER your vote is placed. On the day, it's simply the case that you rank your preferred candidates in order. What happens to your vote afterwards is labyrinthine, but doesn't change the choices you made on the slip.<br /><br />Anyone who can't understand a simple preferential voting system probably shouldn't be voting anyway. I don't share your fears and have faith that Scots as a whole are more than intelligent enough to grasp STV and employ it to do what they want.Craig Gallagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16651039747592264903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5373451344442489822.post-83741417751609103462012-04-09T23:03:12.062+01:002012-04-09T23:03:12.062+01:00Indeed, and if the spoilt papers are anything like...Indeed, and if the spoilt papers are anything like last time in volume then it'll have all been another huge waste of money decoupling the two elections.<br /><br />You'd think they'd be able to come up with some kind of system to validate the paper before it's placed in the box and to advise the voter accordingly if it's incorrect.Stuart Wintonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02772436419630464325noreply@blogger.com