The University of Sheffield’s JUS News held a radio debate yesterday, with Spencer Pitfield and Aaron Cotton, about the forthcoming local elections and Alternative Vote ballot.

The premise behind the Alternative Vote (AV) is that a winner of an election would need the support of a majority of people and, if no candidate commands 50% of votes, the last placed candidate would drop out and the voters’ second preference would instead count. This would continue until one candidate has a majority vote.

Members of the public can vote today on whether they want the AV to be put in place or not. The debate, with Mr Pitfield and Mr Cotton, was held to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the AV.

No to AV

Mr Pitfield, the Conservative Spokesman for Sheffield and South Yorkshire, said that the AV should not be put in place.

He added: “There could be a 35% turnout tomorrow; that’s pretty low for us to decide a referendum on. But the bottom line is parliament has agreed that we are going to have the referendum. It’s about the issue and the important thing is that if people vote no or if they vote yes, we will accept that and we will move forward.

“I think first past the post is clear [and] it’s transparent. And you get one vote, only one vote. You vote for the person who you believe should win the election. The personal party with the majority of voters wins. None of this second or third comes to the front and wins, it’s a clear system.

“The critical thing is that we know [the AV] will cost more money. We’ll have to educate people more, they’ll be more leaflets that go out [and] they’ll be counting machines. It will cost more.”

Yes to AV

Mr Cotton, the co-ordinator for the Yes to Fairer Votes in Sheffield campaign, said that the AV is important in a democratic society.

He explained: “All those polls also say that the turnout is going to be around 70% to 75% – which we know isn’t going to be the case, to be honest. I’d be very surprised if it was about 50%. I think the polling companies haven’t got it right at all; they haven’t got anywhere near what I think what the numbers we’ve got are telling us. It’s very, very close and everything’s to play for tomorrow.

“It’s what people [are] asking for. Is it a system that’s really outdated, is it a system which says that a MP can represents their full constituency with 29% of the vote or is it a system that everyone has to get to the same level of a majority of support?

“Democracy is about the majority choosing who represents them and a majority is not 29%; a majority is 50% or more. And that’s what AV delivers and that’s what first past the post fails on. I’d urge you to vote yes tomorrow.”