Make Votes Matter

Make Votes Matter
Name	Make Votes Matter
Formation	2015
Type	Advocacy group
Headquarters	London, United Kingdom
Region served	United Kingdom
Leaders	National Coordinators
Membership	Volunteers and affiliated groups

Make Votes Matter Make Votes Matter is a United Kingdom-based advocacy group campaigning for proportional representation in United Kingdom elections. Founded in 2015, it brings together activists, campaigners, and political figures to press for electoral reform across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The movement has engaged with parliamentary parties, civil society organizations, trade unions, and student unions to promote changes to the voting system for House of Commons elections.

History

The campaign was formed in the aftermath of the 2015 United Kingdom general election and the 2016 European Union membership referendum, when debates over representation involved figures such as Theresa May and David Cameron. Early activities connected with grassroots movements inspired by pressure group traditions like Channel 4-linked activism and networks that have worked on causes alongside groups such as Best for Britain and Open Britain. High-profile endorsements and interactions included meetings with members of Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, and smaller parties including the Green Party of England and Wales and Scottish National Party. The movement has engaged with parliamentary events at Westminster and regional assemblies influenced by precedents like the adoption of proportional systems for Scottish Parliament and Senedd elections.

Objectives and Policy Positions

Make Votes Matter advocates adopting a form of proportional representation for elections to the House of Commons, favoring systems comparable to those used in countries represented by institutions like the Bundestag, Danish Parliament, and Irish Citizens. The organization proposes replacing the First Past the Post system with alternatives such as Single Transferable Vote or Mixed-member proportional representation, aligning with electoral reforms that have been implemented in jurisdictions including New Zealand and discussed in reports by commentators linked to Institute for Public Policy Research and The Constitution Unit. The campaign frames its objectives in relation to commitments made by political leaders including Jeremy Corbyn, Keir Starmer, Ed Davey, and advocates dialogue with parliamentary committees and select committees in House of Commons.

Campaigns and Activities

Make Votes Matter organizes national marches, local demonstrations, public meetings, and targeted lobbying of MPs, similar in tactic to other civic campaigns such as those by Amnesty International and Greenpeace. It has coordinated rallies in London near landmarks like Trafalgar Square and parliamentary outreach at Palace of Westminster, and has run online petitions and social media drives referencing journalists and commentators from outlets such as The Guardian, BBC News, and The Independent. The group has collaborated with student unions at University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and University College London, and has participated in coalitions with organizations similar to Unlock Democracy and Electoral Reform Society. It has also produced briefings for MPs, engaged with think tanks like Policy Exchange and Resolution Foundation, and campaigned around general elections and by-elections involving candidates from parties including Conservative Party (UK), Labour Party, and Liberal Democrats.

Organizational Structure and Funding

The movement operates through a network of local groups and a national coordinating team, with roles comparable to structures in organizations such as Stand Up To Racism and Women's Equality Party. Leadership includes national coordinators and regional volunteers who liaise with MPs, councillors, and civic institutions including Local Government Association. Funding has been reported to come from small donations, membership contributions, and fundraising events, reflecting common models used by NGOs like CAFOD and Oxfam. The group has engaged with legal entities for administration, echoing governance practices of entities such as Charity Commission for England and Wales-registered organizations and has utilized campaigning regulations overseen by the Electoral Commission.

Criticism and Controversies

Critics from within parties such as Conservative Party (UK) and some commentators in publications like The Daily Telegraph have argued that the campaign's proposals could lead to unstable coalition arrangements similar to historical debates over coalition governments involving figures such as Nick Clegg and discussions during the formation of administrations after elections with no overall majority. Skeptics cite experiences in countries with proportional systems like Italy and Belgium to question predictability and accountability. Other controversies have centred on alliances with groups viewed as partisan by opponents and debates over tactical voting raised during elections involving personalities such as Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage. Internal critiques have also emerged regarding strategic priorities and decisions about which electoral model to endorse, echoing disputes found in reform movements including disputes within Electoral Reform Society.

Impact and Evaluation

Make Votes Matter has influenced public debate on electoral reform, contributing to parliamentary questions, media coverage in outlets such as Sky News and Channel 4, and prompting responses from leaders across Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, and smaller parties. While the UK House of Commons voting system remains unchanged, the campaign is credited with sustaining proportional representation on the political agenda, paralleling long-term advocacy trajectories seen in campaigns like the movement for Devolution in the United Kingdom and the eventual adoption of different systems for bodies such as the Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru. Evaluation by academics linked to institutions like London School of Economics and Oxford University has examined its effectiveness in mobilizing volunteers and shaping party manifestos, while electoral outcomes continue to shape assessments of the campaign's long-term success.

Category:Political advocacy groups in the United Kingdom