EVERY voter would benefit from putting General Election candidates in order of preference (1, 2, 3, 4, etc) by the Alternative Vote (AV) instead of the current X “first-past-the-post” system.

With X voting, most votes do not count and most MPs are elected with less than half the votes, like Middlesbrough MP Sir Stuart Bell for example.

Preference voting would mean every vote would count and every MP would have to get a majority of votes cast – an end to “safe seats” and no more wasted votes.

In May next year we have the chance to vote for a fairer system of electing our MPs in the AV referendum. “Yes to Fairer Votes” is run by the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) and is open to all who support AV, regardless of party affiliation.

We are setting up a Middlesbrough group – boro4av – on behalf of the ERS and would invite anyone who supports fairer votes to get in touch through our website – boro4av.wordpress.com/ – Facebook, Twitter or phone 01642-824694.

Chris Foote-Wood and Emma Inkles, Joint Organisers, boro4av, Middlesbrough.