Voting for what now?

The plural of anecdote is not, I admit, data. However, I have been struck by just how many people I talk to, socially and at work, haven't grasped the point of the alternative vote system that will be used on Thursday in the mayoral election. I think that conceptually it's quite easy - though it does rather underline the two-party nature of British politics (go on then, have vote for the Greens, now who do you really want to win dear?). First you vote for who you'd like to win, in an ideal world. And then you vote against either the Tories or the Labour Party, depending on which you hate most.

It's really not that difficult is it?