Campaigners took to the streets of York city centre to call for electoral reform, including changing the voting system for national elections.
Sean Hagan, of Make Votes Matter York and North Yorkshire, said the current first-past-the-post system left millions without representation and allowed parties to win elections with minority support from voters.
Protests on Sunday, June 14 came as part of the Wake Up Westminster national day of action which saw similar demonstrations held in support of moving to proportional representation.
The York demonstration saw campaigners display a banner bearing the slogan: ‘Wake up Westminster- It’s time for proportional representation’ on landmarks including the bar walls.
Members of Make Votes Matter were joined by those of the campaign group Compass.
Campaigners said the 2024 general election which saw Labour win 411 out of 650 seats in Parliament with roughly 34 per cent of the vote showed first-past-the-post was unfair.
They have called for first-past-the-post, where the candidate with the most votes wins even if they do not get a majority, to be ditched for proportional representation.
Proportional representation, or PR, awards candidates or parties a share of seats based on the share of the vote they receive in the election.
Make Votes Matter’s Mr Hagan said too many people felt their votes were wasted under the current system.
The campaigner said: “Election after election, millions of voters are left without meaningful representation, while parties can gain government power on minority voter support.
“The UK deserves a democratic voting system that ensures seats in Parliament more fairly reflect how people vote and every voter can have an effective voice in shaping the country’s future.”
Electoral reform including giving votes to 16 and 17 year olds is currently making its way through Parliament.
But the Representation of the People Bill does not include changes to the country’s voting system and the Government currently has no plans to alter it.
Opponents say it can produce weak and unstable coalition governments and allow parties to stay in power by making new pacts with others, making them harder to vote out.
York councillors voted 38 to two in support of a motion calling for PR to be adopted nationally in April.
Liberal Democrat Cllr Anne Hook, who tabled the motion, said the change would raise the quality of political debate and force ideas and policies to stand up to scrutiny.
Conservative Cllr Christ Steward, who voted against, said no voting system was perfect and PR would not put an end to safe seats or tactical voting.
