Reform the Scottish electoral system to make it democratic and accountable

What it asks

What the petitioner did first

1. 26 Oct 2017
   Public Petitions Committee

   New Petitions
   1 mention
2. 15 Mar 2018
   Public Petitions Committee

   Continued Petitions
   1 mention

1. Scotland352 71.3%
2. United Kingdom126 25.5%
3. England8 1.6%
4. Spain3 0.6%
5. Australia2 0.4%
6. Northern Ireland1 0.2%
7. United States1 0.2%
8. Wales1 0.2%

1. Pat Lee 18 Jul 2017
   Democracy is not served by allowing failed candidates to be guaranteed a seat through the the List system. Time to close this undemocratic loophole.
2. Alan Morrison 18 Jul 2017
   The Additional Member System is a fudge and needs to be replaced. I think we should go to STV with Robson Rotation to prevent alphabetical disadvantage. Splitting the current regions into 4 with 4 MSPs per new constituency would retain the local link would give a similar number of MSPs as we have at the moment, but happy to have that looked at by the Boundary Commission
3. Richard Alexander 19 Jul 2017
   Our politicians must be elected on merit only and the public must have the ability to reject them when they fail us. No more sneaking in via the back door and gatecrashing the parly.
4. Ian Foulds 19 Jul 2017
   I do not want party apparatchiks in my Parliament as they do not benefit the people of Scotland. They only benefit themselves and, generally, the unionist parties
5. Liz White 19 Jul 2017
   prime example is the unelectable Murdo Fraser the man no one wants yet he is there bold as brass lording it over the people.
   
   Things need a right good shake up.
6. Robert Graham 19 Jul 2017
   long overdue
7. Lesley McGilvary 19 Jul 2017
   This system saw my local community deprived of an excellent hard working msp and needs this change it is undemocratic and ignores the votes of constituents this hold those in elected office to account for their performance.
8. Pam McMahon 19 Jul 2017
   The Scottish Parliament electoral system was set up by the Labour party of the time in order to ensure a unionist majority. It does not reflect the voting intentions of the Scottish electorate, and so is basically (and intentionally) flawed.
   Certainly.candidates should not be able to stand for both, and those who do stand for list seats should not be paper candidates, costing taxpayers' money for by-elections when they are accidentally elected and refuse to take their seats. Is the Electoral Commision the weak and wobbly rubber stamp it appears to be? Of course it is, and I support this petition to tighten up the electoral process in Holyrood.
9. Carol Jardine 19 Jul 2017
   The regional list system is abused on a regular basis. If the electorate don't vote for you then you shouldn't be given a seat in Parliament. Or if you do gain a seat, it should be rewarded with a much lower pay scale.
10. Robert Traquair 19 Jul 2017
    This is an extremely unfair voting system whereby the electorate are literally ignored when they have decided that the person put forward for election has NOT performed or acted in their best interests , instead we have many FAILED MSP's FORCED on the electorate due to party politics and in total CONTEMPT of the electorate and their democratic choices . This is an abomination perpetrated on the Scottish electorate with sub standard rejects only interested in securing continued access to a generous salary
11. William Henderson 19 Jul 2017
    Any review of the current system of election to the Scottish Parliament could usefully include an examination of the prominence given to the political party itself. Democracy, ideally, does not include formal parties which are fundamentally a continuation of an old feudal structure of society.
12. liz Gray 19 Jul 2017
    Restrict the list too two terms only.
    10 year's is more than enough time to show the electorate what kind of contribution can be made and be elected
13. Leslie Roberts 19 Jul 2017
    Any voting system must be where the party with the majority of votes have the majority of seats.
14. David Bruce 19 Jul 2017
    We are by now aware why the PR system was chosen for the Scottish Parliament. I believe the candian system would give a better snapshot of how the electorate are spread across party votes.
15. Dougie Lockhart 19 Jul 2017
    Even reformed as suggested, the list system allows political parties, not ordinary people, to select MSPs.
    
    That is disgraceful and unacceptable
    - d'Hondt in *any* form must go.
    
    I know STV has problems (all systems do) but if we were to use the same system for local and national elections then voters have a chance of learning how to use it. And I could vote for the SNP candidate of my preference instead of holding my nose, hoping for the best against all evidence, and just voting SNP.
16. Sheryl Hepworth 19 Jul 2017
    Unless the system is altered to a fairer type, SMP's should only be allowed to stand twice on the list and no more! If they aren't good enough to be elected by the voters then they shouldn't be able to hold a position for life as is the way now.The list system should be replaced so that the Unionist parties are not able to stand for the list every election and thus contaminate our parliament and receive an unearned income as they do not represent their constituents or Scotland.
17. Agnes Alexander 19 Jul 2017
    If you don't do enough to convince or please the electorate then there should be no alternative route for you to grab a nice little earner. This corrupt and undemocratic system must be scrapped.
18. Tracy Dunnachie 19 Jul 2017
    Unfair system
19. Hugh Gray 19 Jul 2017
    I have signed the petition as I am in agreement with the general principle. However, I can see a case for constituency candidates being nominated on the list, provided they are not the sitting candidate or have previously been the sitting candidate. This could help to ensure that possible new talent would not be blocked from progress in their career. I would also like to see a stipulation that list MSP's are restricted to serve for one parliamentary session only and can only stand as a constituency candidate thereafter.
20. John Coats 20 Jul 2017
    In short this system is just not democratic or representative.
21. Anna 20 Jul 2017
    Good idea
22. Alan Beveridge 20 Jul 2017
    Here's hoping but turkeys don't vote for xmas
23. Irene Gray 20 Jul 2017
    This STV electoral system is proving to be undemocratic and needs to be changed.
24. Sydney Paterson 20 Jul 2017
    Candidates should have a choice whether to stand on the list or FPT but not both. Or change voting system to full proportional representation.
25. Terry 20 Jul 2017
    Voters need clarity, this is precisely why voters feel disenfranchised with a system that allows this and many other manipulations to happen
26. Alexander Maxwell 20 Jul 2017
    I agree that constituency candidates should not appear as a list candidate. I also think that any list seat awarded should be in the area where the votes were cast.
    We also need to have a look at the security during an election. The last few elections and referendums have shown areas open to misuse. We also need to stiffen the punishments for those persons found guilty of electrol fraud.
27. Dave Cormack 20 Jul 2017
    About time this abuse by professional politicians was stopped.
28. JAMES ROBERT C SMITH 20 Jul 2017
    UNELECTED! BUT GETTING THE BENEFITS,SUCH HY SALARY,PENSIONS AND ALL WITH TAX PAYERS MONEY.
29. Christine Smith 20 Jul 2017
    Hope this works so we can undo this mess that Labour made when they changed the voting system to keep the SNP out
30. Eddie Lee 20 Jul 2017
    A good start but I would like to see a complete review of all our many voting systems. The systems in operation need to be better publicised and explained to the general public.
31. George Clark 20 Jul 2017
    It is simple democracy.
32. Kate Malcolmson 20 Jul 2017
    We live in enlightened and ever changing political times.
    If the list system was ever suitable in the past, it most certainly needs reviewing now.
    We, the voters want to be able to put candidates of our choice... in position democratically.We most certainly do not want candidates who have been rejected at the ballot box.
33. Brian Traynor 20 Jul 2017
    I would prefer to see Scotland as an option in the country drop down list.
34. David Whyte 20 Jul 2017
    The use of the List to continually ensure candidates rejected at the ballot box become MSPs is an abomination of democracy and a perversion of the will of the electorate. A limit to the amount of times an individual is elevated by the List must be set. Serial rejects at the ballot box must not have undeserved influence over constituency elected MSPs.
35. Eileen Charity 20 Jul 2017
    I'd like to see them reformed so that the people actually get what they vote for. I also feel there should be more information available on how the systems work, it's scary how many people are unaware. It should also be included in our education systems currently being reformed makes it a great time to do so.
36. Brian Henderson 20 Jul 2017
    If you stand as a msp,your name should be removed from the list. The list should be for up and coming new candidates.
37. Annmarie Palmer 20 Jul 2017
    Candidates should only be allowed to have their name included on one list. No duplication.
38. Gordon Gallacher 20 Jul 2017
    The existing system is fairly close to proportional, but can be improved (STV would be better I think). But it's a scandal that candidates who have been rejected on the constituency should be able to get in on the list. They should have to choose.
39. david barclay 20 Jul 2017
    a person should either win or lose a seat not get in via a technicality.
40. Janette Willet . 20 Jul 2017
    I think the list should be a way of introducing new MPs into the government . Not a way to get rejected MPs in through the back door .
41. Christine Schofield 20 Jul 2017
    System has to be re-vamped not fit for purpose. Too many list MSPs get seats year after year who have not been voted for. Needs an overhaul.
42. Rosemary Smith 20 Jul 2017
    Why do most of the politicians now have university degrees but no passion for change?
43. Tony Connor 21 Jul 2017
    I feel the listings should only allow you one chance to enter the SP then thereafter you strand only through the constituency system.Possibly only use the listings for a first attempt to enter parliament
44. ronnie anderson 21 Jul 2017
    a affront to democracy when any political party can choose who they want to represent the people.
45. Andy Robertson 21 Jul 2017
    If a candidate has been rejected by the voters, then no way should they be allowed into the Scottish Parliament by the back door. If the public don't want them then they should not be there.
46. Raymond Reid 21 Jul 2017
    The list system is so wrong,it was devised by has been politicians that were afraid of losing their seats,the only people that should be elected to government are the people that are voted for democratically by the people not .
47. Francis Napper 21 Jul 2017
    It cannot be good for society to be represented by politicians who fail to be directly elected time after time. Who do they represent ?
48. Christopher Craig Hunt Law 24 Jul 2017
    We need to make the democratic system of voting more fairer and equal.
49. Gregor Spalding 24 Jul 2017
    Its not right for candidates to effectively loose and get in the back door. That's not democratic.
50. Sylvia Jardine 25 Jul 2017
    The list as is now should not have anyone on it that stands to be voted as MSP. The regional list candidates should be each voted in by the public.