Alternative voting system
Published 15 March 2012
© Crown copyright 2012
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/21799-details-relating-to-the-alternative-vote-av-system-being-used-in-the-elections-for-police-and-crime-commissioners-pccs/alternative-voting-system
We have received a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the following:
The parliamentary question asked by Julian Lewis on the 24th January 2012:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason the alternative vote (AV) system is to be used in elections for Police and Crime Commissioners; which Ministers suggested use of this method; on what date the decision was taken to use AV for these elections; and if she will make a statement. Was not, in my opinion, answered but evaded. May I have the answer please?
May I also have; An explanation; As to why such a short time has been allowed for the release of information to potential candidates? For the web links on the information booklet not being operative? As to when the post offered is to be taken up. As to the level of funding if any that is to be allocated to applicants.
We released the following information on 15th March 2012:
The parliamentary question was answered by The Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice, Nick Herbert, as below:
As set out in Section 57 of The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, the supplementary vote will be used for Police and Crime Commissioner (PCCs) elections and not the alternative vote. This is currently the system used for the direct election of Mayors, the closest existing role to PCCs; the Mayor of London already has responsibility for policing in London and is elected on this basis.
There is a website which was set up last year which gives information for potential candidates http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/police/police-crime-commissioners/. There is currently legislation passing through Parliament which will give full details of everything potential candidates will need to know. This legislation will be in Parliament seven months before the election, before the recommended time of six months. The web links on the information booklet have now been fixed. PCCs will take up office on the 22 November, one week after the elections are held on the 15th November. As with other elections, there will be no central funding allocated to candidates.