ELECTIONS

Question 1

WHO CAN/CAN’T VOTE

Answer 1

CAN: Over 18, on electoral register, UK citizen or Common wealth, Irish Republic citizens who are residents in UK

CAN’T - HOL peers, convicted prisoners, patients detained under mental health legislation, anyone convicted past 5 years of corrupt or illegal election practises

Question 2

WHO CAN/CAN’T STAND AT MP

Answer 2

CAN: Over 18, British Citizen, or Irish Republic/Commonwealth citizen resident in UK

CAN’T - HOL peers, politically restricted part of civil service, or in police/army/judiciary, found guilty corrupt election practises in past 10/5 years

Question 3

WHO CAN/CAN’T STAND AS COUNCILLOR

Answer 3

CAN: Over 18, British, Commonwealth or EU Citizen, registered to vote or has interest in the area

CAN’T - Bankruptcy restriction orders, not paid council tax, convicted corrupt/illegal practise by election court

Question 4

MP ELECTION PROCESS

Answer 4

£500 deposit, get back if get 5% vote
Maximum campaign spend fixed by law and monitored by election commission
Approx £8,700 + 6p per voter urban areas/9p rural

Question 5

FPTP

Answer 5

Each voter has one vote, vote for candidate not party
Candidate with majority wins
Party gaining most seats in commons forms government
Overall majority - more seats than all other parties combined

Question 6

AV

Answer 6

Voters RANK candidates
If one gets 50%+ automatic win
If no-one, least popular knocked out and votes redistributed

AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT
LABOUR LEADERSHIP
HEREDITARY PEERS
CHAIRPERSON COMMONS SELECT COMMITTEE

Question 7

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

Answer 7

Seats allocated to parties in direct proportion to their vote share

EU PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS

Vote for party rather than candidate

Question 8

PROS/CONS FPTP

Answer 8

PROS: Results calculated quickly
transfer power easier
little chance extremist powers being elected

CONS: no. votes cast for party not accurately reflected in no. seats
smaller parties not treated fairy
encourages tactical voting

Question 9

PROS/CONS PR

Answer 9

PROS: Only system fair to all parties
Each vote has equal value
Increased voter turnout
Lots of small parties = emphasis on compromise

CONS: Lots small parties = weak and unstable Gov
Easier for extremist parties to gain seats
Local connection MPs have could be lost