Glen Weyl, a Microsoft Research co-creator of Quadratic Voting, shares his vision for revolutionizing electoral systems. Rosie Campbell, a Politics professor at King's College, expresses skepticism about the viability of this approach. Hannah White, CEO of the Institute for Government, discusses its potential impact in Parliament. Rob Ford, a Political Science professor, investigates the intricate relationship between citizenship and voting rights in the UK. Together, they unravel the complexities of modern voting systems and explore how to better represent diverse political opinions.
The evolution of voting rights in the UK highlights ongoing disparities, particularly for certain demographics like long-term EU residents and recent immigrants.
Quadratic voting presents a potential solution to the limitations of the first-past-the-post system by allowing voters to express stronger preferences and achieve more balanced representation.
Deep dives
Rethinking the Voting System
The current voting system in Britain has faced scrutiny following recent elections, highlighting the need for reform. Critics of the first-past-the-post system argue that it disenfranchises voters, particularly in constituencies with clear majority parties, thereby rendering many votes ineffective. While a referendum in 2011 resulted in a decision to retain this system, ongoing discussions around representation indicate that changes may still be warranted. Historical shifts in who can vote, including laws that previously restricted voting rights, demonstrate that the electoral framework is not immutable and can evolve.
Young and Overseas Voters
Recent reforms have expanded voting access to new demographics, notably allowing young individuals aged 16 and above in Wales and Scotland to vote, along with British expatriates who had lived overseas for more than 15 years. This move is expected to enfranchise approximately 2 million additional voters, thus shifting the electoral landscape. These changes reflect a broader engagement strategy, targeting both youth and citizens living abroad, to make the electoral process more inclusive. However, paradoxes remain, such as the comparative voting rights of overseas citizens versus long-term residents without British citizenship.
Quadratic Voting: An Innovative Approach
Quadratic voting offers a novel alternative to traditional balloting, allowing individuals to allocate multiple votes to express stronger preferences on candidates or issues, albeit at a higher cost for additional votes. This system is designed to prevent overwhelming influence from highly passionate voters and encourage a more balanced representation of opinions. The quadratic voting model seeks to foster compromise and consensus, particularly in contentious elections where polarized views dominate. Real-world applications, such as those in Colorado's state legislature, showcase its potential to enhance decision-making processes within legislative bodies.
The Role of Citizens' Assemblies
Citizens' assemblies present a complementary approach to direct democracy, bringing together randomly selected individuals to deliberate on pressing political issues, thus enhancing public engagement. Notably, the successful implementation of such assemblies in Ireland regarding contentious social policies illustrates their effectiveness in creating informed discourse. These assemblies are not meant to replace representative democracy but serve as vital inputs to enhance political decision-making. The structure and facilitation of these assemblies must ensure inclusivity, considering factors like accessibility and support for participants to harness diverse voices in the conversation.
One person, one vote - we're all equal in the voting booth, right?
But it hasn't always been this way, and just who can vote has changed many times since the Second World War.
Until 1951, business owners and some university graduates were allowed multiple votes. 18 year olds could vote for the first time in the 1970 general election, and In 2024 British expats who had lived outside the UK for longer than 15 years were given the vote.
There are anomalies too. Irish and Commonwealth citizens who have just arrived in the UK can vote as long as they're registered, but an EU citizen who's lived here for 20 years cannot, unless they become a British citizen.
And when it comes to the results, smaller parties say the First Past the Post system leaves them with few seats that don't reflect their level of support.
So is there a better way? Quadratic voting, which allows people to vote multiple times could be the answer. Ben Ansell speaks to one of its inventors, and asks, "is it time to rethink voting?"
Presenter: Ben Ansell
Producer: Ravi Naik
Editor: Clare Fordham
Contributors
Glen Weyl, Microsoft Research
Rosie Campbell Professor of Politics at King's College London
Dr Hannah White the CEO of the Institute for Government
Rob Ford Professor of Political Science at the University of Manchester
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