Conservative barrister and political scientist Thomas Hare’s famous original work Machinery of Representation appeared in 1857. This work laid the foundations stones for what would later become the Single Transferable Vote. In the preface to the fourth edition he stated his belief that proportional representation would “… end the evils of corruption, violent discontent and restricted power of selection or voter choice”.

He noted in the preface to his third edition:

“Can it be supposed that the moment the electors are allowed a freedom of choice they will immediately be seized with a desire to vote for some distant candidate with whom they are unacquainted, rather than for those whom they know – who are near to them, whose speeches they have heard and who have personal recommendations to the favour and respect of the town and neighbourhood.”

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