C3 - Electoral Systems Flashcards
how many constituencies
650 - around 75,000 in each
FPTP
plurality system
a candidate has to get more votes than any other, not an absolute majority
importance of concentrated support
FPTP favours parties with support concentrated in one area
2017 - conservatives won with 42.4% of the vote and 48.9% seats, as they have concentrated support in South and Central England
smaller parties (Green) with more dispersed voters get less seats
what are votes per winning candidate
way of considering impact of FPTP. no. of votes it took for each party to elect a candidate
2017 - C had an average vote per winning candidate of 43,000 wheras lib dems had one of 198,000 and green one of >500,000
safe seats
constituents in which its almost certain the same party will win at each election
2015 - electoral reform society estimated 368/650 seats were safe - and around 25 million voters live in safe seats
what do safe seats mean for the people in them
- parties pay little attention to them (less info)
- MPs are less accountable for actions
- voters feel their votes are “wasted”
- means votes aren’t of equal value, voters in safe seats have votes worth less then those in contested seats
what are marginal seats
seats where election outcome is in great debate (likely to change parties at each election)
what do marginal seats mean for the people in them
- parties concentrate campaigns on them
- voters there are more valuable
- may result in tactical voting
- character and policies of candidates important
what are by elections
take place when an MP dies or resigns, creating a vacancy. A by-election occurs in their constituency (often produces strange results, and no “safe” seats).
functions of elections
representation
choosing a govt. / providing legitimacy
hold govt. to account
participation
influence policy
functions of elections - participation meaning and ex.
voting in elections involves people in politics. Party manifestos give people info to make decisions
BUT, info can be misleading:
2001 - Labour said they wouldn’t introduce “top up” fees (for Uni). Went on to increase fees by £1000 per annum
Judging - what do elections need
- a fair result that gives everyone equal value votes
- a choice of candidates
- link between candidate and constituency
- a strong govt. - that can pass laws and be held to account.
what is a proportional system
when parties get seats in proportion to votes cast (either exact or approx)
what is a majority system
- elect a single candidate
- winner gets overall majority of voters
what is a hybrid system, ex.
mix of a proportional and majority system (e.g. AMS)
where is AMS used
in Scotland and Wales
what is AMS
a combination of FPTP and PR
- some seats awarded by FPTP in constituencies, the rest awarded on a regional list system
- every voter has two votes (one for constituency candidate, the other from a choice of party lists)
how does AMS work in Scotland and Wales
2/3 of seats by FPTP in constituencies
1/3 on PR system based on several regions of country.
seats awarded from list system adjusted to give more proportional results based on FPTP (Parties that do less well in constituencies have proportion of list votes adjusted up. visa versa)
effect of this top up is to make seats close to proportional to the total votes cast in both systems
pros of AMS
- produces a broadly proportional outcome and is fair to all parties
- gives voters 2 votes, so more choice
- combines preserving constituency representation with proportional outcome
- helps small parties who can’t win constituencies
cons of AMS
- produces 2 classes of representatives - those with constituencies and those who tend to be more senior (elected though list)
- more complex than FPTP, can confuse some voters
- can result in election of extremists
2016 Scottish parliament data
SNP -59 constituency seats, 4 regional list- 49% seats - 42% votes in regional list
Conservative -7 constituency seats, 24 regional list- 24% seats - 23% vote in regional list
outcome of 2016 Scottish parliament election
% seats won, close to proportional votes cast in regional list. Election under FPTP sees SNP dominating, AMS led to a more proportional outcome
where is STV used
Northern Ireland
how does STV work in NI
- six seats per constituency
- parties put up to 6 candidates per constituency forward
- voters rank candidates
- an electoral quota calculated (total no. votes cast / total no. seats) + 1
- all first preferences counted, any candidate with quota are elected
- 2nd and subsequent preferences (from elected people) added to unelected candidates (continues till 6 candidates)
votes preferences are aggregated to make sure 6 most popular overall candidates win
what type of system is STV
proportional
pros of STV
- broadly proportional outcome
- gives voters a wide range of candidates to choose from
- voters can vote for candidates from different parties and show preference for candidates of same party
- helps small parties and independents
cons of STV
- complex, some voters won’t understand
- vote counting complex, takes a while
- help candidates with extremist views
- with 6 representatives per constituency, lines of accountability not clear
what type of system and where is supplementary vote used
majoritarian system, used to elect city mayors - UK
how does supplementary vote work
- voters get 2 choices, a first and second
- if any candidate gets overall majority in first choice round they’re elected
- if no-one does, the top 2 candidates go into the 2nd round
- 2nd choice votes added to first
- so one candidate gets overall majority
2016 election for London Mayor data
Sadiq Khan - 1,100,000 votes in 1st round (44%) - 1,300,000 in second round (56%)
Zac Goldsmith - 900,000 (35%) - 1,000,000 (43%)
pros of supplementary vote
- winning candidate has overall majority
- simple for voters
- voters 1st and 2nd choices relevant
cons of supplementary vote
- winning candidate may not have majority of first choice votes
- winner could win on 2nd choice
- if people choose 2nd choice wrong it won’t be counted (often they vote same party)
what type of system and where is FPTP used
plurality system, used in UK general elections, and English and Welsh local govt. elections
what type of system and where is AMS used
hybrid system, used in Scottish parliament, Welsh assembly, greater London assembly
what type of system and where is STV used
proportional system, used in all NI elections, and local scottish elections
what type of system and where is SV used
majoritarian system, used to elect city mayors
why was the 2011 ref. suggesting switching to the AV system rejected
- proposal put forward by Lib Dems (v. unpopular at time) and many used ref. o express dissatisfaction for them
- AV is complex, so many voters rejected it as they didn’t understand
- pro-reform campaign was poorly run and anti-reform campaigns were well organised and funded
what is a referendum
a vote on a single issue put to public ballot by govt.
outcome of 1975 referendum
67% yes, 33% no
outcome of 2016 ref.
52% leave, 48% remain
pros of elections over referendums (or things that ref. don’t have)
- help create representative democracy
- all votes may not have equal weight/value
- vote may be influenced by several issues as you vote for a person
- may have to vote tactically
- elected candidate may not have majority
- elections are required by law and must take place at a specific time
- determines who holds political office. including who should form a govt.
pros of referendum over elections
- form of direct democracy
- all votes have equal weight
- vote on a single issue
- don’t have to vote tactically
- needs a majority to pass
- decision to hold a referendum taken by govt.
1973 ref.
Northern Ireland - NI sovereignty ref. on whether NI should remain in the UK (yes to remain)
1975 ref.
UK - Membership of the European Community referendum on whether the UK should stay in European community (yes)
1979 ref’s.
Scotland - Scottish devolution ref. on if there should be a Scottish assembly. ( 40% of electorate had to vote yes. The vote was short of this 40% threshold required to enact devolution )
Wales - Welsh devolution ref. on whether there should be an assembly (no)
1997 ref’s.
Scotland - Scottish devolution ref. on whether there should be a Scottish parliament and whether it should have tax varying powers (both ref. got a yes vote)
Wales - devolution ref. on whether there should be a national assembly for Wales (yes)
1998 ref’s.
London - greater London authority ref. on whether there should be a Mayor of London and London assembly (Yes)
NI - NI Belfast agreement ref. on Good Friday agreement (yes)
2011 ref’s.
Wales - Welsh devolution ref. on whether the national assembly for Wales should gain the power to legislate on a wider range of matters (yes)
UK - ref. on whether to change the voting system for electing MPs from FPTP to AV (no)
2014 ref.
Scotland - ref. on whether Scotland should become an independent country (no)
2016 ref.
UK ref. on whether to leave EU (yes, leave)
referendums - for
direct democracy - give public direct and unmediated control over decisions
political education - widen opportunities for political participation, and spark debates.
responsive govt. - make govt. more responsible by making them listen to public opinion between elections. also allow public opinion to be expressed
reduced govt. power - provide a check on govt. power, as govt. has less control over outcome.
constitutional changes - appropriate that constitutional changes should be made through ref’s. because these affect the way the country is governed, and more important than ordinary laws.
referendums - against
ill informed decisions - general public is ill informed compared to politicians.
weakens parliament - undermines vital principle of parliamentary sovereignty and means decisions aren’t made under careful deliberation
irresponsible govt. - ref. allow govt. to absolve themselves of responsibility
strengthens govt. - govt. decides when to call ref. and what on. they also frame the question (“yes” responses favoured over “no”) and can also dominate publicity campaign. ( These issues now “policed” by electoral commission)
unreliable views - provide a snapshot of public opinion at one point in time.
