You have invited suggestions for improving the electoral system
now in force, and I thank you for the opportunity to comment.
I believe that balloting should be amended to allow electors who
have no confidence in any of the candidates standing to vote
‘No’ and have that vote count. At present
electors who are dissatisfied with all candidates can either
abstain or deliberately spoil their ballots. Neither action conveys
any useful message and there is no other option available at
present.
Were a ‘No’ vote accepted and tallied it
is quite possible that no candidate would amass 50% + 1 of all
votes cast. In such a case the seat would be declared vacant and,
after an interval to allow parties to reassess and modify their
platforms and candidates, a by-election called. During the
interregnum vacancy, governance would be carried on by civil
servants on a status quo ante basis.
We need, and do not have, a way to say "a plague on both (all)
your houses".
|