28m leaflets boost referendum publicity
Friday, 1 April 2011 12:00 AM
By politics.co.uk staff
Every UK household will receive information about upcoming elections on May 5th, in a bid to improve tepid interest in the electoral reform vote.
The British media, distracted by upheaval in the Middle East, has paid very little attention to the ongoing spats between the 'yes' and 'no' campaigns.
But there is now only just over a month to go until UK voters will decide whether to accept the proposed move from first-past-the-post to the alternative vote system.
The Electoral Commission is sending out 27.8 million information booklets and launching an advertising campaign on television and radio today to improve public awareness.
"Thursday May 5th is a big day for voters, with elections across the UK and a referendum on the same day," the Electoral Commission's head of campaigns Clinton Proud said.
"We're sending every household in the country a booklet to give voters the information they need to have their say on May 5th. Look out for the booklet dropping through your door from next week or get one from our website, www.aboutmyvote.co.uk."
UK voters will have to decide whether to vote 'yes' for the alternative vote system, in which no candidate is elected until they get an overall majority.
If this is not achieved in the first round, second-choice votes from the last-placed candidate are redistributed. The process is repeated until an outright winner is found.
Elections to the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as local elections in England, are also taking place on May 5th.
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