It does make sense, but I find myself slightly bemused anyway.
Over 80% of people used their second choice in the last London mayoral election, despite the fact that 78% of people voted first-choice for one of the candidates whom all the polling said would be the final two.
In fact I'm surprised by the actual voting behavior, and taking on board that surprise causes me to *also* be surprised that fewer than 50% used their second preference in the AV mock election.
Something, perhaps the fact that second-choice totals are published "above the fold" of the returning officers' statement, causes people to express a second choice in London when it makes no difference to the result of any round of voting. Something else then causes them to not express a second choice in the mock-AV even though it would affect the result.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2011-04-18 09:39 pm (UTC)Over 80% of people used their second choice in the last London mayoral election, despite the fact that 78% of people voted first-choice for one of the candidates whom all the polling said would be the final two.
In fact I'm surprised by the actual voting behavior, and taking on board that surprise causes me to *also* be surprised that fewer than 50% used their second preference in the AV mock election.
Something, perhaps the fact that second-choice totals are published "above the fold" of the returning officers' statement, causes people to express a second choice in London when it makes no difference to the result of any round of voting. Something else then causes them to not express a second choice in the mock-AV even though it would affect the result.