London Mayor

@davii Said

So you prefer the idea that anyone can pitch up and vote, regardless of entitlement to do so?

There's differeing info on this though; The website giving info on it says that the alternative vote is not counted at any stage towards the overall result. BBC says the opposite.

If it is superfluous, then why put it in the mix in the first place etc.

I was under the impression that AV as a public voting system was what was in question. I hadn't realised that was solely for general elections.

It's not a better system. That was evident when we all discussed AV at the time of that vote.

@jmo Said

You can't just pitch up and vote if you aren't entitled to, you have to give your name and address and if found to have voted illegally you will be put in prison. It's a crime to do.

Voter fraud is very very low in this country, no reason we should force people to pay for ID just to vote. If ID was free then fair enough, but it isn't and any charge on voting is wrong, undemocratic and immoral.

@davii Said

Indeed and they know that the name/address a person gives is genuine how exactly?

@jmo Said

The name has to match the address they have on the electoral register.

@davii Said

Which isn't difficult. Just to say, I'm thinking on this in terms of the postal voting fraud issue that was talked about a while back.

On a national level, I wonder if we'll see voters allegiances regularly swing back n' forth, regardless of which party is in power, 70s style.

@jmo Said

It's extremely rare in this country and the knowledge that if you are caught that you would spend years and years in jail would surely be a disincentive enough.