Letter: AV conundrum

Andrew Gray (Letters, 9 April) claims that the Alternative Vote (AV) system "allows me to vote for other parties that I probably don't want or want very much less than the one I do want". Under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system, voters are actively encouraged to vote for parties they do not want very much.

There is a clever mock-up of a FPTP ballot form with three candidates: the first is "the candidate I really want to vote for"; the second is "the cretin who will get in if I vote for who I really want" and the third is "the reasonable candidate who can keep out the cretin".

In this situation, I am inclined to vote for the third candidate. I am also encouraged to do so by party literature which states this is a two-horse race, that a vote for my favoured candidate is a wasted vote, and by leaflets decorated with bar charts showing who has the best chance of beating whom. Under AV, I can safely give my first preference to my favoured candidate, knowing that if he or she is eliminated, my vote will transfer and still help keep out the cretin.

IAN BAXTER

Broomieknowe Gardens

Bonnyrigg, Midlothian

I'm AFRAID that it is Andrew Gray (Letters, 9 April), who misses the point.

Under FPTP, we get governments elected by a minority of the electorate. Two-thirds of seats in parliament are "safe", so the elected MP has virtually a job for life and the only votes that matter are those of the few "swing" voters in marginal seats. In short, we have a system where not all votes count the same – hardly a democratic system.

Under AV, voters will be able to express their first preference, rather than – as in so many cases at present – being forced to vote tactically i.e. to give their second preference.

Under AV, we would get a government elected by a majority vote, and not by a minority. Such a government would have real authority and legitimacy.

COLIN McALLISTER

South Street

St Andrews, Fife

As AN SNP member, I know of no organised campaign within the party to spoil the ballot paper in the imminent referendum on the AV voting system, yet I am currently minded to do just that.

Unlike most elections and referenda, this is one I cannot take seriously. AV is a first-choice voting system of no party's ideal choice and the only reason we are voting on it is as a sop to the Liberal Democrats from the Conservatives as part of their Westminster coalition agreement.

Whatever the result, life will continue much the same and, therefore, I find Doris Duff's earnest pleas (Letters, 9 April) to treat the matter as one of life or death rather silly. From time to time it's fun to cock a snook at the powers that be. Therefore, I will spoil my AV ballot paper on 5 May and enjoy doing so.

GAVIN FLEMING

Webster's Land

Grassmarket, Edinburgh