Parliamentary and Local Elections (Choice of Electoral Systems) Bill (UK)

A motion for leave to bring in the Parliamentary and Local Elections (Choice of Electoral Systems) Bill was defeated on 14th June 2006. The bill seeks to introduce a rule that a referendum (national or local) must happen if 5% of appropriate electorate sign a petition calling for one.

Such a petition could call for a referendum on a specific voting system or call for a citizens assembley to be formed to select a system to be put to referendum.

The motion proposed by David Chaytor MP on Wednesday 14th June 2006 was:

That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide for the holding of referendums about methods of election to the House of Commons and to local authorities; to enable a specified number of electors to require the holding of such a referendum; to require the Electoral Commission to establish a Citizens’ Assembly to perform functions in relation to referendums; to provide for the adoption by a local authority of a different method of election; and for connected purposes.

The Bill has made the follwoing progress through Parliament: