The Pirate Party looks set for a successful outing in the coming weekend's Icelandic elections.
A poll by local newspaper Morgunblaðið and the Icelandic Social Science Research Institute of the University of Iceland reports support for the Pirate Party is running at about 22.6 per cent, a point-and-a-half ahead of the ruling Independence Party and four points clear of the Left-Greens. That's impressive support, although the party's support has fallen a couple of points since March 2015.
Iceland uses s proportional representation system so the party's current level of support will likely translate into about 15 seats in the 63-member Althingi.
That won't be not enough for Píratar, the party's Icelandic name, to take government. It's also ruled out a coalition with the Independence Party.
But earlier this year Independence split and the recently-formed splinter group Viðreisn (tr. "Regeneration") is polling at 8.8 per cent and has ruled out joining a government with any of the current coalition parties. If the Pirates can align with Viðreisn and other like-minded parties it may therefore become part of a governing coalition and win some ministries.
Four years for a party founded by geeks to take over the government is not bad.
(Score: 2) by dry on Friday October 28 2016, @12:58AM
Australian elections, along with most of the world, have much simpler elections. In an election you vote for 1 or possibly 2 representatives. I assume that Australia is like Canada, where there is a Federal election and a separate Provincial/State election and also separate municipal elections.
One of the weird things about the American election procedure is that they vote for everything at once, so you get huge ballots with everything from President down to dogcatcher on the same ballot. This also encourages voting along party lines.
In Canada, often the Provincial parties don't even exist at the Federal level as well as the opposite. As well many municipalities don't even have parties. Not sure about Australia but it is probably similar.
Anyways, when I vote in most Canadian elections (not municipal), there is only one question, who my representative will be. Government is formed by whoever has control of Parliament and if needed, there is another election.
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Friday October 28 2016, @01:24AM
I have just voted in my Local body Elections, which is a combination of First-past-the-post, single transferable and mixed member voting. I voted for (something like) 30 candidates in about 8 different races.
Counting was completed over the weekend.
The US could easily change their electoral system, but why would the incumbents get rid of their major advantage?
(Score: 2) by Mykl on Friday October 28 2016, @03:07AM
Mostly correct. I'm Australian:
(Score: 2) by dry on Friday October 28 2016, @04:36AM
Thanks for clarifying. I obviously made a few assumptions which were wrong.
Here in Canada, the present government has promised to get rid of the current first past the post system. With what remains to be seen. My Province had a referendum on changing the voting but it failed with like 59% in favour
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 29 2016, @01:26AM
That's not exactly true.
Aussies are required to show up at the polls and sign in.
At that point, am Aussie can deface his ballot with scribbles or rip his ballot into little bits and hand it back.
Actual voting is not required.
...and the fine for not showing up is like $25.
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]