ELECTORAL REFORM

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 26, 31 July 1933, Page 6

ELECTORAL REFORM

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—With due respect to Dr. 1^ Campbell Begg, I would point 'put. that the order in which the names of candidates appear on the ballot-paperis quite immaterial under proportional representation. No matter how many first-choice votes may have been cast for a candidate, he cannot be allowed more than the electoral quota, that is to say, the number required to secure his election. The electoral quota is ascertained by dividing the number of valid votes cast by the number of vacancies plus 1 and adding 1 to the result. For example, suppose a six-member constituency iv which 40,000 votes have been cast. Here the quota is ascertained by dividing 7 into 40,000, and hence the number of votes required to secure the election of any candidate is 5715. All votes cast for a candidate in excess of that number would be "surplus votes," and these would be transferred to other candidates. They would not be transferred capriciously, however, but in accordance with the direction given by each voter in marking his ballot-paper, for it is the voter alone who determines how his vote is to bo used shouldit not be required to secure the election of the candidate'of his first choice.

Dr. Begg has addressed himself to the task of attacking a number of real evils, and hence he mil doubtless realise on reflection that there is all the more reason why he should not attack imaginary evils. No reform is more urgent than electoral reform, inasmuch as we cannot have a representative/ and therefore, an authoritative House of „ Representatives under the existing indefensible'method of election. As matters stand the result of an election depends, not upon the votes of the electors, but upon the splitting of those votes. All the evils inseparable from the, present system—if it can be called a system—will disappear immediately by' adopting the simple, practical, and effective method of grouping the constituencies, and allowing the voter a chance to select, his representatives.—l am, etc.. ■■.'-. P. J. O'REGAN. July 31.