A British delegation observing the San Francisco elections spent Tuesday passing out pro-Proposition H leaflets at the Castro Muni Station.
In San Francisco to observe the campaign for Proposition H, the delegates discussed their observations of the election and the developing electoral reform movement in Great Britain in the SF State Guest Center Wednesday.
The delegation, led by Peter Facey of the Electoral Reform Society of Great Britain, included two members of the British Parliament: Member of Parliament Paul Tyler of the liberal Democratic Party and MP Richard Burden of the Labour party.
"California's long history of referendums provides a wealth of experience on how to consult voters on issues of importance," Facey said. "San Francisco's Proposition H provides an exciting example of how to reconnect the people and their politicians, an example from which we hope to learn in Britain."
The delegates spoke with the SF State political science students who participated in an exit poll Tuesday and are looking forward to the results.
Although Proposition H did not pass, the team's interest in the American election process was not discouraged.
"We got a flavor of what it's like to try to sell someone on a referendum. We are going back with many ideas," Facey said. "Preference voting is not an easy sell."
"We wanted to take the political temperature of the people in San Francisco," Tyler said.
The delegates warned against the danger of the majority-win vote and the increasingly narrow views of the two party system.
"Elections are not just about having a vote and casting it," Tyler said. "How do we make the process better?"
[ Golden Gater - November 7, 1996 ]
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