Make Votes Matter

This is a historic moment. The era of First Past the Post could soon be coming to an end. Let’s be clear: this moment wouldn’t be happening without the grassroots movement that has spent years making the case for change, lobbying MPs, raising awareness in the media and online, and building support in communities up and down the country. Now, we're on a clear path to winning. It's time to transform politics and make all votes count. It's time for Proportional Representation. See a quote from our CEO Emma Harrison here: https://lnkd.in/eg8NQ6E2

⏰ For one week only! It's a crucial time for the campaign. That's why, with the support of our major donors, we're launching a match fund, meaning whatever you give will be worth double. If you haven't donated yet, now is the time to do so. https://lnkd.in/dkVACKPj

This week we hosted the launch of our new report "What Could Future Electoral Systems Look Like?", written by our Director of Policy and Public Affairs Alberto S. As our politics becomes increasingly multi-party, the flaws in First Past the Post are becoming harder to ignore. The question is no longer whether the current system has problems. Increasingly, it is what should replace it. The report examines different possible forms of Proportional Representation, including Single Transferable Vote (STV), Regional List PR, Mixed Systems (including AMS and MMP) and Alternative Vote Plus (AV+). Looking at international examples of places where different PR systems are being used, it analyses the lessons that can be drawn from them and recommends ways to make them successful. At the launch, we heard from a panel of speakers: Lord Mark Pack, Liberal Democrat Peer and polling expert, Professor Maria Iacovou, Professor of Quantitative Sociology and member of the Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform, and Make Votes Matter CEO Emma Harrison. It was brilliant to be joined by our supporters, donors, volunteers, sector partners and experts for a fascinating discussion about the future of the UK's democracy. Read the report here:

"Under First Past the Post, parties can win huge majorities on a minority of the vote. Leadership contests can become national crises. Entire regions can be politically written off. Voters are told to vote tactically rather than honestly. Then Westminster acts surprised when people become frustrated with politics." New blog by our CEO Emma Harrison: https://lnkd.in/eANG8_bN

We need to raise £30,000 to wake up Westminster. Can you help? We now have 5+ major parties under a system built for two. The May local elections will, yet again, deliver chaos. We can't afford more of this mess in 2029. This must be a wake-up call Support our biggest crowdfunder of the year to help send a clear message to MPs and the media: FPTP must go. https://lnkd.in/dkVACKPj

💥 We're in the latest issue of Political Insight: "The question facing Britain is therefore no longer whether our electoral system is under strain, but how much damage will be done to our democracy before it finally adapts to the political conditions it now operates within." https://lnkd.in/ehxvySRu

We really enjoyed attending the Lib Dem conference and getting to speak about the campaign for a fair voting system. While there's still a long way to go, winning Proportional Representation now feels closer than ever before. Thanks for having us! https://lnkd.in/emrWUq-S

Like many democracy campaigners, I spent the evening of 2 March 2026 watching the debate on the Representation of the People Bill. It was one of those rare parliamentary moments when the temperature in the chamber matched the urgency of the issues at stake. There was cause for celebration as Ministers confirmed the government will restore the independence of the Electoral Commission, a change championed by the APPG on Fair Elections. This marks an important step towards rebuilding trust in our electoral rules. The debate did not shy away from the darker forces shaping modern democracy. The impact of dark money and foreign interference was examined in depth, with MPs recognising the seriousness of the threat. Yet uncertainty remains about what concrete action will follow. Much now hinges on the forthcoming Rycroft review. Until it reports, clarity is limited. Another headline issue was votes at 16. Speaker after speaker made the case for extending the franchise, arguing that if young people can work, pay tax and serve their communities, they should also have a voice at the ballot box. Reform UK and Conservative MPs were robust in opposition, but the numbers favour change. With a substantial majority, the Labour government is well placed to secure the reform. Once enacted, it is hard to imagine any future government choosing to reduce democratic participation. But the most striking undercurrent was the growing pressure for wider electoral reform. The Liberal Democrats, Greens and SNP called for a change to the voting system. Labour MPs echoed those calls and pressed ministers to establish a National Commission on Electoral Reform. Several Labour MPs spoke in favour of proportional representation and a commission. At least half a dozen more reportedly prepared speeches but were unable to contribute before time ran out. Chris Curtis, Co-Chair of the Labour Growth Group said: “We do no longer live in a two-party electoral system, and if we continue to have an electoral system that doesn't acknowledge that fact, we will have, as Professor Rob Ford says, ‘Elections that lead to even more chaotic and unpredictable election results.’” James Naish MP urged ministers to “genuinely look at the call for some form of National Commission on Electoral Reform, so that in modern Britain, we genuinely consider how we can make sure every vote counts.” Procedure Select Committee Chair Cat Smith noted that many colleagues had made the case for proportional representation and observed that the Bill would have been an opportunity to establish a commission to explore how to ensure “there's no such thing as a wasted vote.” These interventions were not isolated. They reflect growing recognition that the UK’s electoral system is straining under multi-party politics. Momentum is building inside Parliament and across the country. The pressure is growing, and the case for a fairer, more representative democracy is stronger than ever.

Elections experts warn ministers that they must engage with voting system risks 50+ leading academics warn the UK’s voting system is out of step with modern multi-party politics and “creating new risks for Britain”, following the Government’s publication of the Representation of the People Bill. As covered in PoliticsHome today, signatories include leading political scientists, commentators and former public servants. Read about it here: https://lnkd.in/e6XjsfeJ Left unaddressed, the distortions of First Past the Post will continue to drive instability in our politics, with chaos likely in May and in future general elections. Its growing mismatch with modern multi-party politics is driving volatility, undermining trust and weakening the foundations of stable democratic governance.

💥 BREAKING NEWS 💥 Today in PoliticsHome, over 50 leading academics, former senior public officials and politics, law and policy experts warn about the risks of First Past the Post. In the letter, they write: “The collision of a multi-party electorate with a voting system designed for just two parties is creating new risks for Britain." Signatories include leading political scientist Sir Vernon Bogdanor, Harvard Professor Pippa Norris; and Former Chair of the Electoral Commission, Bob Posner. A consensus is growing: our current way of doing politics is unsustainable. It's time for change. https://lnkd.in/ef5NdXWE