3.1 Different Electoral Systems

Question 1

FPTP

Effects

there are 4

Answer 1

• 2 party system
• winners bonus - wasted votes
• bias towards towards major parties (discrimination against smaller parties)
• jerrymandering

Question 2

FPTP

What type of voting system is FPTP?

Answer 2

pluarlity in single member constituencies

Question 3

FPTP

How does it work?

Answer 3

voters vote for their preferred party and member. You get one vote, and all that is needed is to gain more votes than the person who came 2nd.

Question 4

FPTP

how is FPTP non proportional?

Answer 4

votes are wasted because its the first to recieve the most votes wins. Even if its less than 50% of the vote — labour achieved 55% of seats in 2005 with 35% of the vote.

Question 5

FPTP

increasing developments in the 21st century within the UKs FPTP system?

Answer 5

• more safe seats, in 2017 there were 35 :0
• more disproportionate results,
• lack of strong government because of more small majorities

Question 6

FPTP

should FPTP be replaced?

yes

Answer 6

• doesn’t fit the principle of representative democracy
• lack of mandate - political disillusionment - low turnout
• ‘one person, one vote’ not applicable because of wasted votes and tactical voting
• disadvantage to third partys
• minorities arent representatice

Question 7

FPTP

should FPTP be replaced? no

Answer 7

• 2 party system undermines liberal principles
• its understood - increased turnout + legitimacy
• strong stable government
• clear choice
• constituency link

Question 8

FPTP

How does FPTP work in the UK?

Answer 8

• average size is 75,000 people
• government needs over 50% of total seats
• 365 seats needed. If this isn’t reached, coalitions can be formed
• eg. 2017 confidence and supply agreement with DUP and conservatives

Question 9

AMS

how does it work?

Answer 9

1. constituency vote (basically FPTP)
2. each constituency elects an MP based on plurality
3. winners announced, constituency ballot basically ‘thrown away’
4. regional vote (2 votes)
5. parties list of candidates but you dont have to vote for the same party on both ballots
6. once the d’hont formula is applied - seats are allocated

Question 10

AMS

advantages of AMS

Answer 10

• proportional
• split ticket voting
• government with broad popularity
• representativce

Question 11

AMS

where is it used?

Answer 11

Scotland + Greater London

Question 12

AMS

disadvantages of AMS

Answer 12

• complicated
• unlikely single party government
• first vote has the same disadvantages of FPTP
• regional + constituency voting are different

Question 13

STV

what is it?

Answer 13

single transferrable vote
- ‘ordinal voting’ system where candidates are ranked in order of preference

Question 14

STV

How does STV work in Northern Ireland?

Answer 14

• 18 multi member regions
• 6 representatives in each region
• voters ballot has all 6 regional representativces
• rank in order of preference

Question 15

STV

process

Answer 15

• any candidate who achieves the quota are automatically given a seat
• any votes over the quota are redistributed according to 2nd prefernces, if any of these candidates now have the quota are given a seat
• if there are seats remaining and no one else has reached the quota, last place is eliminated and their votes are redistributed

Question 16

STV

effects

Answer 16

• unlikely single party government
• cooperation to form agreements is vital
• unlikely to have a safe seat due to multimember constituencies

Question 17

STV

advantages

Answer 17

proportional
wide choice
shows preference of same party candidates
people will be represented by someone they support
helps small parties + independent candidates

Question 18

STV

disadvatages

Answer 18

complex
vote counting can take a long time
can aid extremists to be elected
lines of accountability not clear - 6 representatives for each constituency.

Question 19

SV

how does it work in London?

Answer 19

1. London becomes 1 big constituency
2. voters vote 1st/2nd choice candidate
3. 1st preference votes are counted, if anyone had a majority (50%+) then they win
4. if no one has a majority, top 2nd round candidates are found, and 2nd preference votes for them are added.
5. whoever has a majorty after the 2nd round ballots are added wins

Question 20

SV

advantages

Answer 20

• majority result
• voter choice
• simple system

Question 21

SV

disadvantages

Answer 21

• 2 party dominance
• false majority
• wasted votes

Question 22

SV

what type of system is SV?

Answer 22

majoritarian
2 prefernces
used in london mayoral elections every 4 years.