Petition · past parliament
Hold a referendum on Proportional Representation for parliamentary elections
Closed
3,348 signatures
What the petition asks
Under our present electoral system the distribution of seats among the political parties bears no close relation to the total votes cast for those parties. In 2017, the average number of votes cast nationally for each party varied between just under 28,000 and over 525,000 votes per seat won.
This is unfair and unsustainable: since 2005 two general elections have produced no overall majority, and two have produced majorities which each resulted from just over one third of the votes cast.
20 years ago the Jenkins Commission recommended a proportional system to replace First Past the Post. A 2011 referendum offered instead the AV system which Jenkins had rejected as it is not proportional.
We therefore call upon Parliament to hold a referendum on the Jenkins Commission recommendation.
20 years ago the Jenkins Commission recommended a proportional system to replace First Past the Post. A 2011 referendum offered instead the AV system which Jenkins had rejected as it is not proportional.
We therefore call upon Parliament to hold a referendum on the Jenkins Commission recommendation.
Timeline
| 22 Oct 2018 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 22 Apr 2019 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
3,348
Status
Closed
Opened
22 Oct 2018
Closed
22 Apr 2019
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.