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Candler S. Rogers
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Submitted on 17/04/2012 - 10:51pm relating to the issues Basis for eligibility for list seats (thresholds), Order of candidates on the list, Proportion of electorate seats to list seats
Should the 5% threshold be kept or changed? Why? If you recommend change, what should it be and why?:
I would like to see the threshold for list seats be lowered to 4% to increase the variety of parties with roles in Parliament
Should the one electorate seat threshold be kept or changed? Why? If you recommend change, what should it be and why?:
I would like to see the one-seat threshold removed, as it distorts proportionality and increases the status distinctions between electorate and list seats.
In an election, should voters be able to alter the order of candidates from the list order decided by political parties?:
Yes
If you recommend change, how should this be done?:
I would like to be able to order the candidates on a the list using STV. I recognise there are some concerns that lack of knowledge about candidates, especially those farther down the list, may make such an ordering imprecise or demand a high level of awareness among voters, but to exercise the STV option would not be mandatory, and would offer those who felt informed the opportunity to express their opinions.
What should happen when a party wins more electorate seats than it would be entitled to under its share of the party vote?:
The party should have to shed an appropriate number of seats, surrendering the seats most closely contested and working back toward those more easily won until the required number have been released. Surrendering the seats in this way would ensure that the fewest possible voters in any electorate are disenfranchised.
Is this a problem, and what should be done to fix it?:
I would like the proportion of electorate seats to list seats to return to the original equal proportions, with electorates becoming larger until we reach a population of some size deemed too large for two MPs to handle (one electorate, one list). Right now, it seems to me that my MPs are not especially difficult to contact or even meet with if necessary and most countries would have far more individuals represented by a single legislator. Without an equal proportion, the status of electorate and list seats remains distinct and it becomes less practical to ensure fair proportional party percentages. I also strongly object to creating more MPs to address this problem. We have enough to pay for already.