Elections & Referendums Flashcards
3 Majoritarian Electoral Systems?
Supplementary Vote
Alternative Vote
First Past the Post
2 Proportional Electoral Systems?
Single Transferable Vote
Additional Members System
What are Voting Behaviour Models?
Theories to explain the way in which we vote
What is a Manifesto?
declaration of a parties intentions if they were to form a government
What is a Campaign?
organised effort to influence the decision of voters - electoral campaigns
What determined the length of a parliament to a 5 year term?
Fixed Parliament Act 2011
What are the 4 most common elections in the UK?
Genral, By, Local, European Parliament
What is Suffrage?
Right to vote in political elections
General Election turn out in 2010, 2015 and 2016?
65%, 66%, 69%
Reasons for low turn-out at Elections?
lack of party identification (partisan dealignment), predictable result, parties are interchangeable (too similar)
What is the Supplementary Vote used for? + how does it work?
London Mayoral Elections
voters pick top 2 candidates, person with 50% majority wins.
3 Advantages of Majoritarian Electoral System?
Winner has a majority, strong government with a majority, easy to understand
2 Disdvantages of Majoritarian Electoral System?
deals with parties (Labour & Lib Dem to keep out tory), favour central parties (will be everyones second choice)
Advantages of FPTP Electoral System? (5)
Simple, Clear Outcome, Strong government, representative, keeps out extreme parties
Disadvantages of FPTP Electoral System?(3)
Disproportional Outcome, votes are wasted, plurality rather than majority of support.
What is the FPTP Electoral System?
Candidates can vote for one candidate, the candidate with the plurality (1 more than the candidate behind them) wins.
What is a Safe Seat?
Same Party is always voted for
What is a Marginal Seat?
different parties have a chance to win depending on the swing of each party at the time.
What is Rational Choice Model?
Voting Behaviour; Voters evaluate parties & make a conscious decision based on their policies & reputation. (salient issues, swing & churn)
What are salient issues?
Most important issues regarding Education, Taxation, Healthcare, immigration etc.
What is Dominant Ideology Model?
Voting Behaviour; Voters are persuaded through outside influences (the media)
What is Social Structure/Sociology Model?
Voting Behaviour; Voters vote depending on their age, ethnicity, class, gender, region etc.
What would Partisan Dealignment since 1974 suggest?
No longer a clear relationship between individual & party.
How has Class voting changed?
Working class Labour (Trade Unions) now vote Conservative
What % did AB support for Labour increase by?
26% to 37% from 2010 to 2017
What percentage of BAME voters voted Labour in 2015?
70%
Why do ethnicities vote Labour?
Represent ethnic minorities through their policies & party members
Proof of how disproportionate FPTP Electoral System is?
UKIP received 3.9 million votes
Greens 1.2 million
= one MP each.
What % of 18-24 voted Labour & Conservative in 2017 GE?
60% Labour
24% Conservative
What % of 65+ voted conservative in 2017 GE?
60%
What is Selective Retention?
Remembering facts that reinforce our established ideas and forgetting what doesn’t.
What is Selective Exposure?
Avoiding messages that conflict with our beliefs e.g. reading papers that support your party.
What does the Electoral Commission do? (in regards to referendums)
Makes sure Referendums are conducted fairly, allocates funds to campaigns, checks question to make sure its not bias.
3 Advantages of Referendum?
clear mandate
direct democracy
participation.
6 Disadvantages of Referendum?
Expensive Unlevel financial support Voter Fatigue Oversimplified matter Uneducated given a voice Used as a protest as Outcomes are backed by parties
Exit & Opinion Polls?
Exit- Voters asked how they voted on election day = accurate
Opinion- Find out how people intend to vote, e.g. 2017 conservative majority, not considering Young support for labour.
How does the Alternative Vote System work?
Voters rank candidates in order of preference
How does the Single Transferable vote System work?
Candidates ranked in order and then lowest candidates are eliminated until seats are filled (depends on seats available + number of votes)
How does the Additional Members System work + when is it used?
FPTP + Party List system. e.g. Members of Scottish & Welsh Parliament/Assembly
