STEVENAGE residents have responded to the UK referendum on the voting system with a resounding ‘no’ to the alternative vote.

A total of 7,311 Stevenage Borough Council residents voted ‘yes’ to change the system to AV where voters are cast in order of preference, but 17,927 voted in favour of continuing with the current first past the post system.

The figures reflect the current national trend with around 70 per cent voting ‘no’ and 30 per cent ‘yes’.