Yes or no

[altariel]

OK, f'listers, let rip. In 100 words or less, and without reference to the other case, tell me why I should vote either 'yes' or 'no' to the following question:

"Do you want the United Kingdom to adopt the 'alternative vote' system instead of the current 'first past the post' system for electing Members of Parliament to the House of Commons?"

Non-UK perspectives welcome.

Comments

[bill-leisner.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I don't buy that explanation. Counting the same initial vote for candidate A or B in a second round of counting is not the same as giving those voters a second vote, which the candidate C voters are very plainly given.

[manna]

Suppose it worked this way:

There is an election, featuring candidates A, B, C, D and E. People go to the polls and vote for their favourite candidate. The votes are counted and C gets the least.

There is then a second election, featuring candidates A, B, D and E. People go to the polls and vote for their favourite candidate. The votes are counted and D gets the least.

There is then a third election, featuring candidates A, B and E. People go to the polls and vote for their favourite candidate. The votes are counted, and B gets more than 50% of the vote and is elected.

Would that seem fair, or unfair?