Voting Referendum Question 'too hard'

Jokester said:
Here's a suggestion, if someone doesn't understand the question, remove them from the voting register.
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Couldn't agree more! Though to be fair, not everyone would know how FPTP works and what the alternatives are etc. Then again in that case they shouldn't be voting in a referendum so your point stands. That doesn't mean they don't have the knowledge, or right, to vote for their own local MP though.
 
The thing is though, it's not an issue at all about understanding what FPTP is or AV, as they suggest the alternative:-

At present, the UK uses the 'first past the post' system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Should the 'alternative vote' system be used instead?
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I hate the idea of a referendum simply because many people are too dim to be trusted with the responsibility of voting on an issue they almost certainly dont understand. As this news story quite clearly proves!

If you dont understand the question then really, should you be voting?

Sir Winston Churchill said:
The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter
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Lol I understand "Alternate Vote" But First pass the post don't understand how it works but all I know of it it fiddles the system so that there are only 2 strong Sides. Lib dems had 6% less votes than labour yet has so fewer seats that's not proportionate to the voting.
 
Can the wording of the question lead people to chose a specific answer?

Do you want the United Kingdom to adopt the 'alternative vote' system instead of the current 'first past the post' system for electing Members of Parliament to the House of Commons?
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I don't know if it is me, but I paused to consider the question for a moment when reading that.

At present, the UK uses the 'first past the post' system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Should the 'alternative vote' system be used instead?
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Where as the separate sentence at the end makes you want to say yes without understanding what the question was?

Or have I looked into this far to much?
 
Trifid, that's a valid point. Wording can of course have a big impact on the expected response. Any ha'penny psychologist will tell you that. I prefer your second version, as it happens. Original long question is long. :p
 
Yes it does Trifid.

As for the complexity, what would they like instead?

Again, most of this comes down to constitutional ignorance amongst the population.
 
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