AV will 'disenfranchise' poorest voters
Thursday, 7 April 2011 12:01 AM
The alternative vote would lead to five times more spoiled ballots and disenfranchise the poorest voters, the No to AV campaign has claimed.
The 'no' campaign claimed a higher level of spoiled ballots would effectively disenfranchise voters from less affluent groups who have less education or limited English and are more likely to unintentionally spoil their ballots.
Under AV, voters would be asked to number candidates on their ballot according to preference. Under First Past the Post, voters only mark an 'x' by their preferred candidate.
No to AV pointed to Australia - where elections are conducted under AV. In last year's federal election, the number of spoiled ballots reached 5.36%.
Comparatively, under one per cent of ballots were spoiled in the UK's general election last May.
The 'no' campaign also highlighted an 18% drop in voter turn-out during the five year period after AV was introduced in Australia in 1917 - with turn-out only increasing after compulsory voting was mandated in 1925.
Joan Ryan, deputy director of NO to AV, said AV would reduce the voice of vulnerable groups.
"The high rate of spoiled ballots and lower turnout in elections fought under AV should trigger an alarm to those in the Labour movement who care about democracy," she said.
"Where the alternative vote system is used around the world, it disproportionally reduces the voice of socially marginalised voters.
"This isn't us being patronising or talking down to people, this is a fact and it is a very real concern. This is why protecting 'one person, one vote' is so important on 5 May."
The latest figures from the 'no' campaign come in an increasingly bitter campaign battle.
Earlier this week, Yes to AV were accused of replacing black poet Benjamin Zephaniah with Blackadder actor Tony Robinson in campaign literature sent outside of London.
Reports emerged yesterday that the group had actually airbrushed him in, after deciding that London voters would question why everyone on the leaflet was white.
Meanwhile, No to AV were under fire after claiming AV would benefit the BNP and other marginal parties - despite the fact the BNP is campaigning for a 'no' vote.
Top party officials have not escaped the escalating row. Liberal Democrat energy secretary Chris Huhne and Tory chairman Baroness Warsi had a public spat after Baroness Warsi said AV would benefit fascists, with Mr Huhne accusing her of "Goebbels-like" propaganda.
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