3. Electoral systems Flashcards
What are the 4 Electoral Systems?
FPTP
Supplementary Vote
Additional Member System
Single Transferable vote
Explain First Past The Post
Simple Plurality System
Split into 650 single-member constituencies
In each constituency, voters case one vote for preferred candidate
Candidate with largest no. votes elected as MP
Advantages of FPTP
- Leads to strong gov with clear mandate to carry out its policy as winning party can have clear majority
- Provides strong representation with small constituencies having single MP to represent their interests
- Simple and easy for voters to understand- one vote, clear choice , party with most seats won
Disadvantages of FPTP
-Not proportional as votes don’t translate into seats, benefits parties with concentrated support so parties with thinly spread support get fewer seats-
2015 UKIPS 3.8 mil votes = 1 seat
- Limited choice for some voters due to safe seats
eg. Theresa Mays constituency is safe seat- 60% in 2017 - Wasted votes- 2017 North East fife67% wasted with SNP winning by 2 seats
- Can result in minority government which weakens gov mandate- 1915 Tory 44% Labour 48% but Tory still won
Explain the Single Transferable Vote and where its used
Northern Irish Assembly
A preferential voting system which uses multi-member constituencies and a quota. Voters number their choice of candidates in order of preference, candidates require a certain quota to be elected
If no candidate reaches quota on 1st, then candidate with fewest vote is eliminated and 2nd preferences are redistributed
Advantages of Single-Transferable Vote
- Offers large choice for voters due to multi-member constituency means voters can chose between candidates from same/different parties
eg. 2017 DUP had 3candidates and Alliance had 2 in Belfast East constituency - Encourages positive campaigning as candidates want transferred votes
- Votes and seats seen as highly proportional- fewer wasted votes as 2nd pref votes are transferred, parties with thin support likely to win seats
- Prevents one party dominating
Disadvantages of STV
- LInk between members. voters can be weak as there are many members representing same constituents instead of 1
- More complicated/ takes longer to reach final result
- Donkey voting- rank in order they appear
- Likely to produce coalition gov- unstable / give disproportionate influence to minority party
Explain AMS and where its used
Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, London Assembly
1 vote for constituency rep using FPTP
2nd vote for favoured party from party list to elect additional reps assed proportionally
Advantages of AMS
Has Proportional element by proportionally assigning seats to parties, votes
less likely to be wasted
Voters have greater choice, can do split ticket voting
Votes easy to count/ understand outcome
Disadvantages of AMS
Smaller parties less well represented than in entirely proportional system as party list can advantage largest parties- eg wales small top up seats favours Labout
Party list candidates less legitimate, not directly elected
Lacks democratic transparancy, party decides whos on it/ order
Tensions between 2 types of Reps
Explain SV and where its used
Mayor of London/ Police and crime commissioner
Vote for 1st and 2nd preference. Candidate with with over 50% 1st pref votes. If not, all but top 2 eliminated where 2nd pref votes allocated to decide winner
Advantages of SV
- WInner needs broad support increasing legitimacy
- encourages positive campaigning
- Simple, 2 x’s
- Supporters of smaller parties used 1st to pledge allegiance and 2nd for favoured major candidate
Disadvantages of SV
Can win with minority support, less legitimate/ representative
Wasted votes if you dont choose top 2 candidates
Not proportionate to regions wishes as only 1 eleted
