Guest Blog: Unequal Votes. Outdated systems. It’s time to organise for a better democracy.

April 1, 2026

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Guest Blog: Unequal Votes. Outdated systems. It’s time to organise for a better democracy.

Over the past few hundred years, our society and democracy have developed and changed beyond recognition. However, our voting system has failed to keep pace. We believe that First Past the Post has no place in a modern democracy, and should be replaced by a system of Proportional Representation. If you agree, sign the petition. If you want to know why, read on:

Minority rule

The idea of a minority ruling over the majority goes against our most basic ideas about democracy. But with First Past the Post, it's the norm. For about 90% of the time since 1935 we've had single-party 'majority' governments, but not one of them had the support of a majority of voters. The Conservatives currently hold a majority of seats with just 43.6% of the votes. In the 2019 election they gained an extra 48 seats despite an increase of only 1.2% of the vote share. Almost since the first general election, politicians who most of us didn't vote for and don't agree with have had the power to govern the UK however they like.

Proportional Representation means majority rule, not minority rule. With PR, any government must have a majority of votes behind it - so in order to govern, a party needs to either work collaboratively with other parties, or persuade most of us to vote for it.

Demand Real Democracy

The idea of a minority ruling over the majority goes against our most basic ideas about democracy. But with First Past the Post, it’s the norm. For about 90% of the time since 1935 we’ve had single-party ‘majority’ governments, but not one of them had the support of a majority of voters. The Conservatives currently hold a majority of seats with just 43.6% of the votes. In the 2019 election they gained an extra 48 seats despite an increase of only 1.2% of the vote share. Almost since the first general election, politicians who most of us didn’t vote for and don’t agree with have had the power to govern the UK however they like.The idea of a minority ruling over the majority goes against our most basic ideas about democracy. But with First Past the Post, it’s the norm. For about 90% of the time since 1935 we’ve had single-party ‘majority’ governments, but not one of them had the support of a majority of voters. The Conservatives currently hold a majority of seats with just 43.6% of the votes. In the 2019 election they gained an extra 48 seats despite an increase of only 1.2% of the vote share. Almost since the first general election, politicians who most of us didn’t vote for and don’t agree with have had the power to govern the UK however they like.The idea of a minority ruling over the majority goes against our most basic ideas about democracy. But with First Past the Post, it’s the norm. For about 90% of the time since 1935 we’ve had single-party ‘majority’ governments, but not one of them had the support of a majority of voters. The Conservatives currently hold a majority of seats with just 43.6% of the votes. In the 2019 election they gained an extra 48 seats despite an increase of only 1.2% of the vote share. Almost since the first general election, politicians who most of us didn’t vote for and don’t agree with have had the power to govern the UK however they like.The idea of a minority ruling over the majority goes against our most basic ideas about democracy. But with First Past the Post, it’s the norm. For about 90% of the time since 1935 we’ve had single-party ‘majority’ governments, but not one of them had the support of a majority of voters. The Conservatives currently hold a majority of seats with just 43.6% of the votes. In the 2019 election they gained an extra 48 seats despite an increase of only 1.2% of the vote share. Almost since the first general election, politicians who most of us didn’t vote for and don’t agree with have had the power to govern the UK however they like.The idea of a minority ruling over the majority goes against our most basic ideas about democracy. But with First Past the Post, it’s the norm. For about 90% of the time since 1935 we’ve had single-party ‘majority’ governments, but not one of them had the support of a majority of voters. The Conservatives currently hold a majority of seats with just 43.6% of the votes. In the 2019 election they gained an extra 48 seats despite an increase of only 1.2% of the vote share. Almost since the first general election, politicians who most of us didn’t vote for and don’t agree with have had the power to govern the UK however they like.The idea of a minority ruling over the majority goes against our most basic ideas about democracy. But with First Past the Post, it’s the norm. For about 90% of the time since 1935 we’ve had single-party ‘majority’ governments, but not one of them had the support of a majority of voters. The Conservatives currently hold a majority of seats with just 43.6% of the votes. In the 2019 election they gained an extra 48 seats despite an increase of only 1.2% of the vote share. Almost since the first general election, politicians who most of us didn’t vote for and don’t agree with have had the power to govern the UK however they like.

This is a guest blog from Katie at Migrant Democracy Project and reflects her own views.

You’ve heard it before: Our electoral system is simply not fair. Millions of votes not being reflected in Parliament. Single party governments which do not come close to representing the broad views, needs, or desires of our communities. Having to vote tactically rather than for our preferred candidate. Widescale disillusionment as a consequence of First Past the Post.

But, what if I also told you that millions of people are completely locked out of the ballot box on Election Day because of where they come from?

I am Katie, the Community Organiser at Migrant Democracy Project, and in light of the Representation of the People Bill, we are organising with our communities to fight for a true democracy that doesn’t create hierarchies of citizenship; where everyone’s voice counts and counts equally; and there are no decisions about us, without us.

Votes at 16 is already a huge step forward for democracy. Young people should be able to shape the future they hold great stakes in. Yet, upon its announcement in the Bill, the government stated that Votes at 16 will bring us in line with Scottish and Welsh legislation. What it fails to recognise is that Scotland and Wales introduced residence-based voting rights – Votes for All – at the same time as Votes at 16.

What’s more, the government justifies the extension of the right to vote to 16 and 17 year olds because “Decisions the government makes now will not only affect young people today but will have an enduring impact on their entire lives.” Does this not also apply to the millions of people who have set up lives here, work, and contribute greatly to British society, but cannot vote purely based on their place of birth?

According to Migrant Democracy Project’s report ‘What if everyone could vote?’, over 4.4 million people cannot vote in general parliamentary elections and over 1.2 million people cannot vote at all – not even for their local councillors. These restrictions to the right to vote are based on archaic structures that separate the nationalities that they think should and should not have the right to vote.

So we had to get organised – our community has been working hard to spread the message, write letters, and speak directly with their MPs in groups. In the meantime, we are building our collective power at a local level to shape political outcomes for whichever cause we choose.

No change has ever been handed over. It has to be fought for. Our MPs must hear from their constituents that we want a voting system for equal voting rights, where not only can everyone vote, but also all votes count equally.

And it is working: an amendment has been tabled to the Bill to extend full voting rights to qualifying EU and foreign nationals with a right to enter and remain in the UK. But one has also been tabled to withdraw the Commonwealth vote altogether. We must fight to defend and extend the right to vote.

These amendments only prove the power of community – in the ballot box and out. That’s why on voter registration deadline day, 20 April, Migrant Democracy Project is coming to Parliament. Our community and partner organisations, those with and without the right to vote, will demand that our MPs support the amendment for Votes for All. Because if Keir Starmer really wants to modernise elections and restore trust in democracy, the only solution is an overhaul of our democracy.

In the UK currently, 1 in every 6 residents were not born here. A true democracy reflects the ever-evolving society we live in. True representation means reflecting the people whose lives are affected everyday by government policies. True universal franchise means Votes for All.

Fair elections cannot be achieved without residence-based voting rights. Much like proportional representation, there are global examples of countries who have implemented them already: from Scotland and Wales, to Belgium and New Zealand. This fight is achievable! But only if we come together and demand change.

So join us at our mass lobby – be a part of the change you want to see. The fight for PR and for residence-based voting rights is democracy in action and the time to fight is now.

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