The wasted vote
In Malta we vote by writing numbers next to candidates’ names, because we use the STV system (single transferable vote). This is an important part of our electoral system that allows us to say that “my favourite candidate is John, but if he doesn’t get...
In Malta we vote by writing numbers next to candidates’ names, because we use the STV system (single transferable vote). This is an important part of our electoral system that allows us to say that “my favourite candidate is John, but if he doesn’t get elected or he gets extra votes, then my next preferred candidate is James”.
However there was a time when we had it even better: Today, only the number 1 vote decides which party wins the election, but prior to 1987, even the numbers 2, 3 etc had a say in deciding which party wins. Today the numbers 2, 3, etc serve only to choose between the candidates – not to choose the winning party.
Back in 1987, when the changes were made, this didn’t particularly matter because there were only two parties. If you voted for PN and PN did not get elected, your second preference was MLP whether you liked it or not. However, when a third party came to the scene in 1992 the system stopped being so straightforward: if you voted for AD, no one knew whether your second preference was PN or MLP. So if AD did not get elected your vote would be wasted (because it could not be transferred).
Take the 2008 election as an example. 5,271 people voted for a party that did not get elected, and the votes of these people were wasted. If their number 2 vote was taken into consideration, we would be able to see which party these 5,271 people gave their second and third preference to, and the winning party would be a party that is supported by the majority of the votes cast. But since the numbers 2, 3, etc were not taken into consideration, we have no option but to let PN govern with less than 50% of the votes.
I propose establishing a system of vote transferring from non-elected parties to elected parties, because only then will we be free to vote for whoever we want without worrying that our vote will be wasted.
In the speech he gave in Floriana after his inauguration, the Prime Minister promised electoral reform. The Labour Party’s commitment is also required because electoral reform requires a 2/3 majority in Parliament.
It is hoped that the two leaders will take electoral reform seriously. I expect to see the problem of ‘wasted votes’ solved by the next election.
Lara Vassallo is a 2nd year medical student and a member of InSite, the student media organization www.insite.org.mt