On Elections

How people elect parliaments

US Gerrymandering declared unconstitutional – again

A superior federal court in another US state – this time North Carolina – has declared that partisan gerrymandering of electoral districts is contrary to the US Constitution. A three-judge … Continue reading

January 10, 2018 · Leave a comment

Virginia state vote ends in farce

The first election to be resolved in 2018 is actually for an American state legislature voted for last November – but the election has ended in farce. The Virginia House … Continue reading

January 6, 2018 · 1 Comment

Elections in 2018

After multiple world electoral dramas in 2017, the 2018 calendar year will be relatively quiet for parliamentary elections, with few major nations going to the polls. The main event will … Continue reading

January 3, 2018 · Leave a comment

Catalans vote to retain a pro-independence parliament

The world’s last legislative election for 2017 – an emergency election for the Parliament of the Spanish region of Catalonia – has affirmed the Catalan population’s support for political parties … Continue reading

December 22, 2017 · 3 Comments

Boilover in Alabama: Half of traditional Republican voters stay home

A dramatic special election for a United States Senator for Alabama has ended with the Democratic candidate Doug Jones defeating his astoundingly controversial Republican opponent Roy Moore. Jones polled 49.9% … Continue reading

December 13, 2017 · 2 Comments

Australian parliament’s dual citizenship fiasco to roll into 2018

The constitutional high farce that has already seen 8 Australian MPS and Senators removed from Parliament now sees around a dozen more MPs under threat of removal. From July this … Continue reading

December 6, 2017 · Leave a comment

Germans might try minority government for a while

Government-formation negotiations flowing from September’s national Bundestag election in Germany is proving difficult, with talks over a three-party coalition collapsing earlier this month. Current Chancellor Angela Merkel had been seeking … Continue reading

November 27, 2017 · 2 Comments

UK House of Commons debates proportional representation

The debate over electoral reform for the United Kingdom has moved a small step forward, with a debate in the House of Commons on the subject. In response to well-supported … Continue reading

October 31, 2017 · Leave a comment

UK Conservatives’ early election call cost them majority

Had UK Prime Minister Theresa May waited several months to call an election, her Conservative government might have retained its House of Commons majority in a smaller Parliament, even on … Continue reading

October 19, 2017 · Leave a comment

Electoral reform efforts active in Canada

Canadian electoral reform organisations continue to be active in several of the nation’s provinces, despite the disappointment of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau abandoning a 2015 election pledge to secure electoral … Continue reading

September 10, 2017 · Leave a comment