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Pledge “novotecounts”
"I will campaign for changes to the electoral system to make voting abstentions count but only if 10 other people will do the same."
— Steve N, resident of Greenwich, London (contact)
Deadline to sign up by: 31st December 2008
37 people have signed up (27 over target)
Country: United Kingdom
More details
I want to see political parties get penalized for a low electoral turn out. In other words, if we are fed up with them to the back teeth, I want to make our voting abstentions count. My proposal is somewhere along these lines:
If the national turnout at a general election is lower than 60%, then the next general election must be called within 4 years.
If the national turnout at a general election is lower than 55%, then the next general election must be called within 3 years.
If the national turnout at a general election is lower than 50%, then the next general election must be called within 2 years.
If enough people like this idea, then we have a hope of getting it through. As a suggestion, you could visit www.writetothem.com and ask your elected MP what they think of this idea. My guess is they probably will not like it! So maybe someone out there can think of other ways to push for it.
Current signatories (
= they've done it)
Steve N, the Pledge Creator, joined by:
- Andy Ellis
- Sir Arthur Grebe-Streebling
- james smith
- Amanda Crane
- David Mayer
- Darren
- Nia
- John Vickers
- Christine Arrowsmith
- Sophie Shaw
- Albert Shaw
- Wm. (Bill) D. Hodges
- Lea
- Owen
- Jon Cording
- Jo Titchard-Lyons
- Danny Staple
- John Shaw-Miller
- Damon L. Hoppe
- Jennifer Phillips
- David Blake
- Jezz Evans
- Ceri Morrison
- Oliver Kahan
- Lucie
- Feargal Hogan
- Jonathan Hones
- JOGINDER SINGH FOLEY
- James Lowey
- Sara Munday
- Paul Bowe
- Jonathan Bradbury
- Jake Maverick
- John Jeskevicius
- 1 person who did not want to give their name
- 2 people who signed up via mobile
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In a general election this might serve the purposes of Steve's original idea but would be arguably more practical and easier to introduce.
Even if re-opening nominations didn't produce any new candidates, anyone who was elected after initially losing out to RON could hardly claim a substantial mandate, and their period of government would likely be shorter.
Like a "None of the above" option, it might be easier to get introduced:
i)It would not compromise a government, once elected - as Steve's idea might.
ii)Since it would require politicians to risk nothing but their credibility, in theory only hypocritical politicians could oppose it.
What does anyone think?
(Wouldn't a RON (or None of the above option) work better at a constituency than national level?)