electoral systems Flashcards
features of elections
- universal suffrage
- equal votes
- secret ballot
- plurality competition between parties
functions of elections
- confer legitimacy on government and politics s
- ensuring the will of the majority is cleared
- help form governments
- help form a choice of political programme
- citizens can actively participate
- provide representation for constituents
- hold government to account
define electoral mandate
authority extended to the winning party or candidate and gives them permission to act or produce legislation in accordance to their manifesto/promises
types of elections
- general
- devolved assembly
- european parliament
- local
define referendum
popular vote on a single issue which directly affects policy
it is mostly advisory so the government is not obliged to act on the outcome
examples of referendum
- northern ireland 1973 on whether it should remain part of UK
- devolution 1997 of scotland (74% yes) and wales (50% yes)
- good friday 1998- 71% yes and 80% turnout
- london mayor 1999- 72% yes and 34% turnout
- AV referendum 2011- 68% no and 42% turnout
- scottish referendum 2014- 55% no and 84% turnout
- eu referendum 2016- 51.9% leave and 72% turnout
advantages of referendums
- enable electorate to decide on issues
- settle long standing disputed like electoral reform
- keep electorate engaged and informed
- check on government power
disadvantages of referendums
- may impose decision on a reluctant government like cameron
- asked more than one for “right answer” like ireland on lisbon treaty
- divisive
- misleading campaigns
- population lack specialist knowledge
- simplify issues
- voter disillusion and apathy
- undermine authority of parliament and it’s sovereignty
features of FPTP and how it works
- main voting system in UK general elections, by elections and local elections
- MP need simple majority/ plurality to win
- each MP represents a single member constituency
define safe seat
one regarded as secure by a party and has little change of changing over to another party e.g southend west with conservatuves
define marginal seat
one held with a small lead and determine outcome of elections
evaluation of FPTP strengths
- simple
- creates stability and strong governments
- clear MP to constituency link
- quick and easy to produce a result
- exclusion do extremists like racism, and ensures they do not get into power
evaluation of FPTP weaknesses
- favours two big parties (duopoly)
- favours areas where votes are concentrated rather that overall support, like Reform with 14% of vote in 2024 but only 5 seats
- ignores smaller parties and votes are wasted
- most MPs do not receive 50% of the vote to be representative- Alasdair Mcdonnell in Belfast South in 2015 only polled 14.7% of electorate
- winners bonus- more % of seats than overall share of votes received like Labour 55% of seats but 35% of votes in 2005
features of single transferable vote and how does it work
- used in devolved assemblies like NI and scotland
- creates multi member constituencies
- rank candidates in order of preference
- to be elected, a candidate needs to get more votes than a quota, derived from droop formula (number of votes cast / seats + 1) +1
- surplus vote above the quota are proportionally redistributed to second preference
- if no one reaches the quota, the least popular candidate is eliminated and the second preference of those who votes for them are redistributed
- process continues until all seats are filled
STV evaluation strengths
- more proportional and fewer votes are wasted
- greater choice
- no safe seats so parties must campaign everywhere
- in NI, it has created a a power sharing government that enabled representatives from nationalists and unionists to work together
STV evaluation weaknesses
- coalition government more likely
- time conus,img and labour intensive
- donkey voting
- more likely to get spoiled as people do not understand
- weaker MP to constituency link
supplementary vote features and how it works
- was used in London Mayoral elections but Johnson scrapped it
- also used in police and commissioner elections
- majoritarian system
- allows the voter to vote for two preferences
- if the strongest candidate gets over 50%, there is no need to count second preferences
- if no candidate has 50%, all it the top two are eliminated and second preference votes are added
SV evaluation strengths
- more choice
- encouraged moderate campaigning that is aimed at all people
- simple
- ensure broad support for the winner- Sadiq Khan elected in 2016 has the largest personal mandate (56.8%)
- strong MP- constituency events
SV evaluation weaknesses
- labour intensive
- voters still need to vote tactically and determine the top two likely parties
features of additional member system and how it works
- used in scottish parliament, welsh assembly and greater london assembly
- FPTP is used to elect most politicians which is the constituency representative
- the. the second vote is for the party and uses multi member regional constituencies, known as top up members
- the party create a list of candidates to choose from
evaluation of AMS strengths
- allows smaller parties to have more power- 2021 greens was elected to 8 top up seats
- most proportional
- FPTP part maintains strong member and constituency link
- have wider choice and can split their vote if they appeal to more than one party
evaluation of AMS weaknesses
- boost extremist parties like in 2009, 2 BNP candidates were elected to EU Parliament
- closed system is used meaning the party leadership ranks their preferred candidates and choose who they want
- smaller parties achieve less representation than under PR, like SNP dominating Scotland- 2021 getting 62 constituency seats
why the need for electoral reform
- experiment in politics as there is disillusion
- feeling that political system is unfair with a duopoly
- allow for a more mature political system which includes coalitions
- need to win over minor parties
- offering as an incentive in a general election- 2010 coalition and Blair in 1997
- give more parties experiment in governing
why has FPTP survived in Westminster
- outcomes suit the largest two parties
- Labour promised referendum on electoral reform in 1997 but didn’t deliver
- coalition gave referendum on AV but public chose to stick with FPTP
- voters accept because it is familiar and easy to use
why AMS in Scotland, Wales and Greater London
- FPTP wouldn’t be popular for devolved assemblies as minor parties would feel betrayed, with Labour winning landslides
- AMS was a compromise as it wasn’t as radical change as STV
- elements of proportionality whilst also retaining local representation
why STV in Northern Ireland
- after 1998 Good Friday agreement
- proportional and promote power sharing between nationalist and unionist communities
- preventing Unionist dominance under FPTP
- STV already being used in Republic of Ireland
why SV in mayoral elections
- SV over AV as it was simpler and gave preferred top two candidates, which gave them a clear mandate and greater legitimacy
arguments for FPTP and against PR
- extremist parties would be allowed in
- can have a government and coalition that no one voted for
- fragmentation and more difficult to make and pass laws
- FPTP brings strong governments- thatcher and blair
- AV referendum shows electorate have no appetite for electoral reform- 67.9% against
- PR too bureaucratic and slow
- provides coherent opposition
- strong constituency link
- quick and easy
- new system may lead to gerrymandering- boundary lines changed to suit a particular party
arguments for PR and against FPTP
- most MPs are unpopular to most of their constituents
- better representation
- FPTP not democratic or gives equal votes
- PR is already used in european parliament
- already had a coalition government
- fair- 80% didn’t vote labour in 2005
- duopoly
- turnout is lower as over 70% of seats are wasted in safe seats
- all voices heard
- PR will lead to positive campaigning as parties need to work together
- limits voters choice
impact of electoral system on coalitions and new voting systems
- coalitions and minority governments much more common in devolved assemblies- single party majority only achieved by SNP in scotland (2011-16) and labour in wales (2003-2007)
- west minister continues to see single party rule- apart from 2010 coalition and 2017
- most coalitions and minority governments have to be stable
impact of electoral system on the politics of compromise
-consensual politics is more common in devolved areas where parties have to work together
- SNP in 2011 needed support from other parties to pass budget and made concessions to conservatives and lib dems like increase in college bursaries
- in NI, good friday agreements means unionist and nationalist must work together and be represented in administration
impact of electoral system in policy making in devolved governments
- labour and lib dems in scotland decided free university fees and elderly people would receive free nursing care
- scotland and wales abolished prescription charges
impact of electoral system on party representation
- smaller parties have more of a chance in proportional systems
- less affected by geographical concentration
impact of electoral system on voter choice
- AMS allows for two votes- constituency and list
- STV allows for more choice with preference rank
- SV allows first and second preference
