How much will AV cost & why next May?

Posted 5 Jul 2010 by Walaa Idris

Now it’s all official, we will have a referendum on AV and it will be very interesting to see in the coming day how things will develop.

However, a couple of questions – how much will holding a referendum cost us and why hold it next May?

The public purse is being tugged and pulled every which way and every department has being asked to cut and look for ways to trim their budgets. So how much is having this referendum is going to cost us, cost the county?

At first glace, it looks cheaper to hold a it when you are holding an election and it does, although not all of the UK is holding elections next years all of the UK just had an election this year – you see where I am going with this!

Which ever way you look at it, it’s a costly indulgence, I am not saying don’t have a referendum. I am just asking why now. The nature of our politics is that every year there is some sort of election going on. If it is not local it is the EU or the Assembly Election or the General Election. And since the next General Election is not until 2015, why the rush?

Won’t it be better to hold the referendum in a couple years time when the economy has picked up and the whole thing does not feel like such an indulgence!

Just asking!

3 comment(s)

Linden Parker

Linden Parker
5 Jul, 18:30

It could be argued that it’s better to get the referendum out of the way, so that if the response is a ‘YES’, then there are four years to implement the necessary changes.
If we’re still counting votes by hand in 2015, then it’s going to be a mighty task in some constituencies to get the votes counted swiftly. I think advanced preparation for the changes would mean smoother implementation and a generally better perception of the new voting system.

Tom Lillis IV

Tom Lillis IV
5 Jul, 19:19

Ms. Idris,

As an arch conservative in the US I typically agree with you. However, even I get a bit queezy when the words “election” and “costly indulgence” are placed in close proximity. The recent interventions by the authoritarian left, particularly in the UK, indicate just how shaky our democratic institutions are. Surely obtaining the consent of the governed takes precedence over ANY other government expense.

Walaa

Walaa
5 Jul, 22:07

Tom & Linden, thank you for your comments and I appreciate your point, but you must agree with me the difference between 4 & 3 years [to prepare for the new system] is not all that much. However, it will allow everyone sometime breezing time.

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