3.1 - Different Electoral Systems

Question 1

What is a plurality voting system, what electoral system does is it described by, and where is it used?

Answer 1

• To win a seat, a candidate only requires one more vote than any other candidate meaning they do not need to secure an absolute majority
• FPTP
• UK generals, local council elections in England and Wales

Question 2

What is a majoritarian voting system, what electoral system does is it described by, and where is it used?

Answer 2

• Used to select a single candidate, these systems are designed to attempt to secure an absolute majority for the winning candidate
• SV
• London mayor elections, other metro mayor elections

Question 3

What is a proportional voting system, what electoral system does is it described by, and where is it used?

Answer 3

• A system that attempts to allocate seats in direct proportion to votes cast – as such they are multi-member constituencies
• STV
• NI parliament, SC local gov

Question 4

What is a hybrid voting system, what electoral system does is it described by, and where is it used?

Answer 4

A system that mixes two other types of system EG plurality and proportional
- AMS
- Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd, Greater London Assembly

Question 5

What is first past the post?

Answer 5

FPTP is an electoral system where the person with the highest number of votes is elected – victory is achieved by having one more vote than the other contenders – it is also called a plurality system

Question 6

Key features of FPTP (5)

Answer 6

• Small, single member constituencies
• Winner takes all based on a plurality
• Voting is simple, place an X next to your chosen candidate
• Voters get one vote for one candidate
• Voters choose a candidate not a party

Question 7

How many constituencies with how many people on average are there in the UK?

Answer 7

• 650 constituencies
• On average 75,000 people per constituency

Question 8

Arguments for FPTP - Parties concentrating support

Answer 8

Gives an advantage to parties that can concentrate their support – EG
- Regional support for Sinn Fein and the DUP in NI every election
- 2019 – SNP – 1.2 million votes for 48 seats
- 2001 = 40% of the votes = 413 seats (63%) – Labour
-2005 = 35% of the votes = 356 seats (55%) – Labour

Question 9

Other arguments for FPTP (understanding, bond, accountability)

Answer 9

• It is easy to understand and produces a clear result in each constituency
• It produces one single representative for each constituency so creates a close constituency-MP bond
• The accountability of the individual MP is clear to voters

Question 10

Arguments against FPTP - Parties with dispersed support

Answer 10

Disadvantages parties whose support is dispersed – EG
- 2019 – LibDem – 11 seats – 11.5% of the vote
- 1983 – LibAllience – 23 seats – 25% of the vote
- 1983 – Labour – 209 seats – 27% of the vote
- 2015– UKIP – 1 seat – 12% of the vote
- 2015 – Greens – 1 seat – 3% of the vote

Question 11

Other disadvantages of FPTP (proportion, wasted votes, parties securing a majority)

Answer 11

• The outcome is not proportional or fair – some parties win more seats than their support warrants while others win fewer than they deserve
• Votes are effectively wasted in safe seats as support for the main party is so strong that there is no possibility of a realistic change - EG
  2015 election estimated to have 368 safe seats - HOWEVER in 2019 supposedly safe seats in the Red Wall collapsed so not 100% accurate
• Since 1945 the winning party has never secured an outright majority of the vote - EG in 2015 Cons elected with just 36% of the vote – 63% of people voted against the governing party - In 2005 Lab won 35% of the votes but 55% of the seats

Question 12

What is AMS and where is it used?

Answer 12

• A hybrid system that combines FPTP with a proportional representation system
• Used in Scotland and Wales and for the Greater London Assembly

Question 13

How does AMS work?

Answer 13

• A proportion of seats is awarded through FPTP while the rest are awarded through a regional closed party list system
• In Scotland and Wales, the variable top-up system adjusts the proportions of votes on the list based on the over or under representation a party has received through the FPTP voting
• Basically the seats awarded from the list system are adjusted to give a more proportional result
• This means that ever voter has two votes – one for a constituency candidate and another for a party

Question 14

Arguments for AMS (4)

Answer 14

• Produces a broadly proportional outcome and is fair to all parties
• It gives voters two votes and therefore more choice
• It combines preserving constituency representation with a proportional outcome
• It helps small parties that cannot win constituency contests

Question 15

Arguments against AMS (3)

Answer 15

• It produces two classes of representative – those with a constituency and those elected through lists – the latter tends to be senior
• It is more complex than FPTP – having two votes can confuse some voters
• It can result in the election of extremist candidates

Question 16

Results of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary elections % of seats won and % of votes received for SNP, Cons, and Lab

Answer 16

• SNP - 40.3% of votes - 49.6% of seats
• Cons - 23.4% of votes - 24% of seats
• Lab - 17.9% of votes - 17% of seats
• Shows that AMS is broadly proportional

Question 17

Where is STV used and what type of system is it?

Answer 17

Used in NI for its Assembly elections and local council elections – proportional system

Question 18

How does STV work?

Answer 18

• Very complex system
• Typically 6 seats available in each constituency
• Each party is permitted up to 6 candidate (one for each constituency) – in practice parties usually only have 4 candidates as they have little chance of winning all 6 seats
• Voters place the candidates in order of preference
• At the court, an electoral quota is established – this is the total number of votes cast divided by the number of seats available plus 1
• Initially, all the first preferences for each candidate is counted – any who achieve the electoral quota are elected automatically
• Then, the candidate that comes last is eliminated and the second preferred candidate on the last placed candidates’ ballots are counted towards the other candidates’ totals – if this results in someone achieving the electoral quote, they are elected
• This process continues until six candidates have achieved the quota and are elected

Question 19

Advantages of STV (5)

Answer 19

• It produces a broadly proportional outcome
• It gives voters a very wide choice of candidate – the second and subsequent choices of voters are taken into account
• Voters can vote for candidates from a different party and show a preference between candidates of the same party
• As there are 6 representatives per constituency, each voter has a choice of those to represent them and can usually be represented by someone from their party
• It helps small parties and independent candidates get elected

Question 20

Disadvantages of STV (4)

Answer 20

• It is quite a complex system that some voters do not fully understand
• The vote counting is complicated and can take a long time
• It can help candidates with extremist views to be elected
• With 6 representatives per constituency, the lines of accountability are not clear

Question 21

Results of the NI assembly election 2022 in terms of % of seats won and % of first preference votes for Sinn Fein, DUP, and Alliance Parties

Answer 21

• Sinn Fein - 29% of first preference votes - 30% of seats won
• DUP - 21% of first preference votes - 27% of seats
• Alliance party - 13% of first preference votes - 18% of seats won
• Shows that STV results are very proportional

Question 22

Comparing the three voting systems - Is there a clear winning mandate?

Answer 22

• FPTP - Clear winning mandate
• AMS - Mixed - still has a clear winner but also has top up candidates
• STV - Weaker due to multi-member constituencies

Question 23

Comparing the three electoral systems - Is there a clear winning party with a sufficient mandate?

Answer 23

FPTP - Usually secures a clear winning party and mandate
AMS - Less likely to secure single party gov – but WL and SC have had single party dominance and SC had a majority post 2011
STV - Much less likely to achieve this and more likely to rely on coalitions

Question 24

Comparing the three electoral systems - Is it easy to understand?

Answer 24

• FPTP - Easy to understand
• AMS - A mixture of two systems operating on different principles making it slightly more complicated but has worked where used
• STV - Much more complicated but has worked where used

Question 25

Comparing the three electoral systems - Does it promote smaller/extremist parties?

Answer 25

• FPTP - Stops extremist parties and other small parties from winning seats
• AMS - More likely that smaller parties will gain some form of representation, but not much
• STV - Much more likely that smaller or extremist parties will gain some form of representation

Question 26

Comparing the three electoral systems - Is it proportional?

Answer 26

• FPTP - Lacks proportionality
• AMS - The worst aspects of proportionality are tempered by the top-up seats, though not eliminated
• STV - Far more proportional representation of parties

Question 27

Comparing the three electoral systems - Is there a strong constituency to MP link?

Answer 27

• FPTP - Strong constituency-MP link
• AMS - Strong for FPTP aspect but weak for the top-up seats
• STV - Much weaker constituency link