Elections

Question 1

Partisanship

Answer 1

A bias or preference in favour of a particular group or body, expressed through affection, loyalty and support.

Question 2

What is the Additional Members System?

Answer 2

• Hybrid system (mixes FPTP constituency and party-list elements)
• Electors cast two votes; one for constituency election and one for ‘closed’ party list
• Party list uses D’Hondt method

Question 3

What is the D’Hondt formula?

Answer 3

party list votes/ number of seats already won +1

Question 4

Where is AMS used?

Answer 4

• Scottish Parliament (party list with 7 regions)

- General London Assembly

Question 5

Where is AMS used?

Answer 5

• Scottish Parliament (party list with 7 regions)

- Welsh Assembly

Question 6

Why is AMS not purely proportional in UK?

Answer 6

Scottish Parliament: 73 constituencies/ 56 list seats

Welsh Assembly: 40 constituencies/ 20 list seats

Question 7

What is the Additional Members System?

Answer 7

• Hybrid system (mixes FPTP constituency and party-list elements)
• Electors cast two votes; one for constituency election and one for ‘closed’ party list
• Party list used to rebalance the proportionality of FPTP
• Party list uses D’Hondt method

Question 8

What is the closed party list system?

Answer 8

• Proportional system; seats allocated according to vote share
• Split into regions (9 in England)
• Parties produce a list of candidates to be selected, if party wins 1/3 then top 1/3 are elected
• Closed because in UK vote for parties not for candidates

Question 9

Where is the party list system used?

Answer 9

EU elections

Question 10

Where is AMS used?

Answer 10

• Scottish Parliament (party list with 7 regions)
• Welsh Assembly
• Greater London Assembly

Question 11

What is Single Transferable Vote?

Answer 11

Proportional system- electors vote preferentially- multi-member constituencies- uses Droop formula

Question 12

Where is STV used?

Answer 12

Northern Irish Assemblies

Scottish local elections

Question 13

What is the Droop formula?

Answer 13

Quota: (number of valid votes/ number of seats +1) +1

Question 14

What is Single Transferable Vote?

Answer 14

Proportional system- electors vote preferentially- rank candidates in order of preference (across parties)- multi-member constituencies- any candidate who meets the quota is elected- surplus redistributed- uses Droop formula

Question 15

Example of STV in action

Answer 15

Edinburgh 2003 election under FPTP Labour won a majority of the city council with less than 1/3 or vote, whereas in 2012 under STV with Labour, SNP, Lib Dem, Conservative and Green all won a proportion of seats similar to their proportion of first preference votes.

Question 16

What is the supplementary vote?

Answer 16

• Majoritarian system; winner must gain 50%
• Single member constituencies
• Results in single-party government
• Voters must select first, second and third choice

Question 17

Where is SV used?

Answer 17

London Mayor elections

Question 18

What is the Alternative voting system?

Answer 18

• Majoritarian system
• Single member constituencies
• Voters vote preferentially
• If no one secures 50%, remove lowest ranking, keep topping up (redistributing) votes until one person secures 50%

Question 19

Where is AV used?

Answer 19

Labour leadership- 2010- David Miliband was in the lead until final round where Ed won his support from Trade Union members