YOUR SAY: Preferential poll not our preference
PREFERENTIAL voting in the upcoming Mayoral election has been met with criticism from Daily News readers.
Almost 80% of readers in our online poll said they didn't support preferential voting, which could see a Mayor elected without a majority of the vote.
Darryl Evans, who ran for Mayor at the last election, said preferential voting was a "crock".
"The current mayor has been elected with less than 40% of the vote," he wrote.
"How is that representing the opinions of the majority of the electors?"
Mr Evans, a vocal critical of the current Southern Downs Regional Council, predicted the next election would see several groups of people run for Mayor and councillors.
"It's about time there was an alternative choice put to the people because clearly what we have has failed us," he wrote.
"Last election saw many a good candidate miss out on representing the community due to the divide and conquer mentality of dark ages running our council."
Our next Mayor could be elected without a majority, with the Southern Downs Mayoral election to be held by preferential...
Posted by Warwick Daily News on Sunday, August 30, 2015
Daily News reader finga was also critical of preferential voting.
"Preferential system in federal politics saw 'The Greens' virtually running the shop didn't it?," he wrote.
"'First past the post' is a lot better system and I would rather see someone with 40% of votes be mayor than someone who received 10% votes became mayor due to preferences."
What we need is a mayor with an ability to lead and some good Councillors.
Others were more supportive of the preferential voting.
Gavin Leslie used the following example to explain it.
"In a three-way split of 33/33/34, the person with 34 wins - leaving 66% of the population disappointed," he wrote.
"Preferential voting means you may not get your choice but you may get your next preferred option."
What other readers said
Who we vote in should be it
- Dee Hall
Absolutely 100% not!
- Lyn Prowse-Bishop
Who's in whose pocket?
- Lauren Domjahn
Never Ever!
- Nathan Cols
No absolutely not
- Eddy Hindmarch
Don't like it. leaves it open to schemers not matter who they are. First past the post is the only true vote.
- rumpledsilkskin,
Dalcouth
All voting should be first past the post. I vote once; I don't give my vote to someone to give it away to someone else.
- Val Rogers
