Direct Party and Representative Voting (DPR)

First published in 2010 |

Direct Party and Representative Voting (DPR Voting)

DPR Voting continued (2 of 4)

DPR Voting is a PR voting system for the UK simple, fairer, better,
where all MPs are directly elected in a single-member constituency.
One vote - for the person you want to be your local MP
One vote - for the political party you support
 Two separate ballot papers

Changing the voting system is difficult because nobody likes change - until it is absolutely necessary.
But our politics is in a mess. A new voting system is part of the answer. We need a catalyst for change.
Let's keep it simple. Voters want to know that their vote will count. They want simple voting and counting.
Why DPR Voting?
DPR Voting is simple, fairer - it's proportional. In Parliamentary Party Politics, your party has a fair vote.
But in your constituency, regardless of party, you can choose the best person to be your MP.
That means a parliament with better MPs, not just party puppets.
Why not FPTP?
The claim that 'First Past the Post' (FPTP) provides strong and stable Government is just wishful thinking.
 FPTP election results are erratic, unpredictable, you could say undemocratic.
Our electoral system encourages aggressive, adversarial politics. Reporting of debate and argument has been replaced by sound bite. Choices are presented as simple and binary.
Our country is fiercely divided, and we don't have the political culture of trying to find cross party agreement.
We need a better voting system - DPR voting is the answer.
Single member constituencies,
Simple voting and counting,
Fair PR, Every vote counts

 
Changing the voting system is central to UK electoral and political reform.
We need a better balance - the government, political parties, the elected members, and the people.
We can have a better voting system than First Past the Post.
In a Referendum, your vote counts. It's simple. Who won? You just count the votes

It should be simple in a General Election, but FPTP is not simple. It doesn't work like that.
To make your vote count in a General Election, we need a Proportional Voting system (PR).
Single Member Constituencies?
With DPR Voting you get a PR system with Single Member Constituencies ....
DPR Voting shows you how
DPR Voting is a PR voting system that retains some features of FPTP and addresses the drawbacks of AMS/MMP and STV
As a result, most of the arguments against electoral reform are disarmed
..
With DPR Voting you have two ballot papers, two votes

One vote - for the Candidate - the person you want to be your local MP, on your first ballot paper.
You elect your MP to represent your constituency, regardless of party affiliation.
If the MP has a party affiliation, he/she will become a member of that party's Parliamentary Party.

One vote - for the Parliamentary Party you support on the other ballot paper. The Parliamentary Party is the group of the party's members elected to parliament.
This is not a vote for a candidate or a party list of candidates.
This second vote determines how many votes each Parliamentary Party will have in parliament.
party group of elected MPs will have in parliament.
The result?
One MP in each constituency - for local, personal, accountable politics.
Simple and quick voting and counting that everyone can understand - for transparency and clarity.
Party Proportional voting - for a fairer balance in politics.
Every vote in every constituency counts - for everybody to re-engage with politics..

A short explanation of DPR Voting - web page or two page pdf


For more on DPR voting (3), see here