On Elections

How people elect parliaments

More choices for US president – how easy it could be

American voters are this week facing a choice of president between two candidates that most voters reject – Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. It doesn’t need to be that way. America’s voters could have … Continue reading

November 8, 2016 · Leave a comment

As tensions rise in US elections, leading pollsters feud over methods

The leaders of two of America’s major polling services are at loggerheads over whether FiveThirtyEight.com’s predictions about Donald Trump becoming president are reliable. The 2016 elections have seen more polls … Continue reading

November 7, 2016 · Leave a comment

Americans have little control over their Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is the first institution described in detail in the text of the US Constitution, but it normally comes a distant third behind the presidency … Continue reading

November 6, 2016 · Leave a comment

Gerrymandering still rife in US congressional districts

As US voters go to the polls to choose 435 House of Representatives members, the Republican party has an artificial advantage of more than 20 seats, built into the contest … Continue reading

November 6, 2016 · Leave a comment

Maine voters consider shift to preferential voting

Voters in the US state of Maine will vote on November 8 on whether to approve a change to the state’s electoral law to introduce preferential voting for all state and … Continue reading

November 3, 2016 · 2 Comments

US elections: drivers of increased turnout

Of the many factors that will determine the coming US elections, voter turnout could prove among the most crucial in several key states. Many media outlets are reporting – amid … Continue reading

November 3, 2016 · Leave a comment

7 days to go in US elections

In seven days’ time the results of the US elections will be blazing from news services around the world. What are the predictions one week out? The most established of … Continue reading

November 2, 2016 · Leave a comment

Move to ‘write-in’ Trump alternatives a meaningless gesture

In United States elections, it is often possible for voters to ‘write-in’ a candidate whose name is not on the ballot paper. But recent announcements by various Republican politicians to disavow … Continue reading

October 26, 2016 · Leave a comment

Democrats win first US Senate seat for 2016

34 US Senate seats are facing election in November, but the Democratic party has already won one – thanks to the voting system itself. There will be no contest this year … Continue reading

October 25, 2016 · 1 Comment

US elections: Senate races

34 of the 100 United States Senate places are up for election next month, with around a dozen races seen as close contests. The senators serve 6-year terms, with one third of seats … Continue reading

October 24, 2016 · Leave a comment