Is AV more complicated?

Yes, AV is more complicated. It's more sophisticated. However, it is just as open and honest as the current FPTP system. Counting is done by the same people that count FPTP results. The method of counting is more complex but it's not hard to understand once you open your mind to it and understand the mechanism.

FPTP stops after the count of all votes. The winner was the one who had the most votes at that stage. It does not consider any second or third preferences at all.

AV counting only stops once the winner has achieved a 50% share of the vote. It means 50% of the people either chose that candidate as their first choice or as a second, third or fourth choice and so on. But, be sure of this, they did choose that candidate.

AV produces winners who have overwhelming support.

We have to be careful here to point out a few things:

• not everyone votes - some people who can vote will not turn up to vote
• when candidates are knocked out of the voting, all votes for them that have no further preferences will be discarded

Bearing this in mind you might say that it means that the winner who has 50% of the votes does not necessarily have 50% of the votes of all voters. However, if people do not vote and do not express second and third preferences, it means they are undecided and are content for others to decide the outcome, so in fact, it is a kind of vote.

If I don't go to the election, my intention is "I do not want to make a decision on who will be my MP and I will be satisfied with whoever is selected by other voters".

AV is more complicated, but complication does not mean unfairness.