This is not about voting systems rather than the rights of an individual to vote.

For example, why are individuals denied the right to vote because they have moved between constituencies before appearing on the electoral roll. Councils are responsible for the roll - they collect the tax pdq so why the delay?

Ex-pats - isn't it about time that the EU gave the rights to vote according to where you live, and sort out once and for all the domicility/nationality problem?

Proxy votes - should they be allowed?

Should the voting age be raised or lowered?

Many elections have seats won or lost on a handful of votes. Whilst there may be apathy that may be due to distrust, ignorance or other factors, there are many votes that may have been lost or gained due to the current system.

Tiz, when I moved a few months ago I rang the district council and asked them to send me an electoral registration form. They said OK. When polling day got nearer I rang against asking if they'd sent it. This time I was speaking to someone else (in the same department) and they said they only send out electoral forms with the first council tax bill and it was then too late anyway. I thanked them for disenfranchising me and hung up.

How are we supposed to encourage people to vote when, as you have shown, our own voting systems at the moment are in such a state?

Good topic.

My opinion for what it's worth is -

I would support proportional representation but I do see the problems with it and think it is more important to 'get right' the question of who gets to vote before we decide which electoral system to use. As I said before I happen to favour PR but accept that FPTP and AV are not without their merits - incidentally I wouldn't be at all surprised if Gordon Brown introduces AV at some point. Anyway, to answer the question about who I think should get to vote -

Anyone living in the UK who is old enough to pay income tax (including any person in prison).

Or

Any UK citizen currently living overseas.


In short, I think any person who is in anyway a part of our society should get to vote providing they are old enough to pay income taxes (I believe the age is 16, right?)

I am surprised that adults on the move are not enabled to choose where they can vote.

Tertiary students can elect either home or university location.

The ex-pat's are more tricky in that they may still elect to pay UK taxes in the short term. This needs a general overhaul - I see no good reason why an ex-pat can vote in their last UK constituency 15 years after they left. Instead of where an individual pays income tax I suggest their rights should lay with where they pay local taxes. The fluidity of people moving between EU nations makes this more pressing.

If prisoners elect to pay local taxes then they should retain their vote, else not. Ditto any others, such as the lords. Heck, the Queen pays taxes, why shouldn't she vote?

prisoners should not be alowed to vote, they are supposed to have no liberty!