Electoral Systems

Question 1

What is a variant of first past the post and where is it used?

Answer 1

It is a system known as ‘block voting’ in which constituencies elect more than one candidate and is used in local elections in England and Wales.

Question 2

What were the results of the 2019 General election?

Answer 2

Conservatives - 365 seats, 43.6%.
Labour - 202 seats, 32.2%.
Lib Dems - 11 seats, 11.6%.
SNP - 48 seats, 3.9%.

Question 3

What were the results of the 2017 General election?

Answer 3

Conservatives - 317 seats, 42.3%.
Labour - 262 seats, 40%.
Lib Dems - 12 seats, 7.4%.
SNP - 35 seats, 3%.

Question 4

What were the results of the 2015 General election?

Answer 4

Conservatives - 330 seats, 36.9%.
Labour - 232 seats, 30.4%.
Lib Dems - 8 seats, 7.9%.
SNP - 56 seats, 4.7%.
UKIP - 1 seat, 12.6%.

Question 5

What were the results of the 2023 Local election in Hull Council?

Answer 5

Lib Dems - 32 Seats, 49.2%.
Labour - 25 seats, 41%.

Question 6

What were the results of the 2023 Local election in the East Riding Council?

Answer 6

Conservatives - 29 seats, 35.7%.
Lib Dems - 22 seats, 29.6%.
Independents - 9 seats.
Labour - 4 seats.
Yorkshire Party - 3 seats.

Question 7

Advantages of First Past The Post?

Answer 7

FPTP is easy to understand and operate.

FPTP normally produces a clear winner.

FPTP produces a strong and stable government.

FPTP offers a clear choice between the governing party and the opposition.

Single member constituencies create a clear link between MP’s and voters.

FPTP provides extremist parties with little to no chance of electoral success.

Question 8

Give 2 examples of First Past the Post producing a clear winner?

Answer 8

In 2019 the Conservatives won 365 of the 326 seats needed for a majority.

In 1997 Labour won 418 seats of the 330 seats needed for a majority.

Question 9

Give 2 examples of First Past the Post not producing a clear winner?

Answer 9

In 2010 the Conservatives won 306 seats of the 326 needed for a majority and in turn had to form a coalition with the Lib Dems who won 57 seats.

In 2017 Theresa May won 317 seats of the 326 needed for a majority so she had to form a confidence and Supply deal with the DUP who won 10 seats.

Question 10

Give two examples of extremist parties performing poor due to first past the post?

Answer 10

In 2015 UKIP won 12.1% of the vote however, this only translated into 1 seat giving them very little direct parliamentary influence.

In 1997 Referendum won 811’000 votes however, despite this they achieved no seats in parliament.

Question 11

What did the Elections act 2022 do?

Answer 11

It required voters to bring photo ID with them in order to vote, in the May 2023 Local elections 14’000 people were denied the right to vote because of this although the Conservatives lost over 1000 seats.

Supplementary vote in mayoral elections also became First Past The Post.

Question 12

What are the disadvantages of First Past the Post?

Answer 12

• It can generate disproportionate outcomes.
• Can create electoral deserts leading to apathy.
• Rewards for plurality rather than morality support.
• Unequal value of votes.
• Denies voters a real choice.

Question 13

Give 2 examples of FPTP leading to disproportionate outcomes?

Answer 13

In 2019 the Conservatives won 43.6% of the vote but won 365 seats which is over the 326 needed for a majority highlighting the winners bonus.

In 2019 the Lib Dems won 11.6% of the vote but only 11 seats which highlights how smaller parties are often too thinly spread.

Question 14

Give 2 examples of electoral deserts?

Answer 14

The SNP tend to dominate Scotland winning 48 seats in 2019 leaving very few for other parties.

Rural areas such as Lincolnshire are Conservative hotspots.

Question 15

Give 2 examples of safe seats?

Answer 15

Ever since its creation in 1997 the seat of Beverley and Holderness has been a Conservative safe seat currently under Graham Stuart.

Since 1983 the seat of Islington North has been held by Jeremy Corbyn.

Question 16

What was supplementary vote used for?

Answer 16

It was used to elect the mayor of London and Various other cities as well as police and crime commissioners.

Question 17

What are the key features of SV?

Answer 17

They record their first and second preference on the ballot paper.

If no candidate gains majority in first round then the two with the most votes have second preferences added to their vote.

Question 18

What were the results of the 2021 London Mayoral Elections?

Answer 18

First Round
Labour - 40% of the vote.
Conservatives - 35.3% of the vote.
Green - 7.8% of the vote.

Second Round
Labour - 55.2% of the vote.
Conservatives - 44.8% of the vote.

Question 19

What are the advantages of SV?

Answer 19

-The winning candidate must achieve broad support which in turn lends them more legitimacy.

• Supporters of Small parties can use their first vote to express allegiance and second to indicate which they prefer.
• People that support minor parties in both votes don’t influence the vote.

Question 20

Give 3 examples of voters supporting small parties in the first round of SV voting?

Answer 20

In the 2021 London Mayoral elections the Greens won 7.8% of the vote, Lib Dems won 4.4% of the vote and Niko Omilana won 2% of the vote.

Question 21

What are the disadvantages of SV?

Answer 21

-The winning candidate may still not win a majority if second preference votes aren’t used effectively.

• Does not need to get a majority of first preference votes, the least unpopular candidate may be elected.
• May not deliver a proportional outcome in general elections.

Question 22

What are the key features of the STV electoral system?

Answer 22

• Representatives are elected in large multi-member constituencies.
• Voting is preferential and ordinal meaning that voters rank their choices.
• A candidate must reach a quota in order to be elected.

Question 23

What were the results of the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly elections?

Answer 23

Sinn Fein - 27 seats and 29% of the vote.
DUP - 25 seats and 21% of the vote.
Alliance - 17 seats and 13.5% of the vote.
Ulster Unionist - 9 seats and 11% of the vote.
SDLP - 8 seats and 9% of the vote.
TUV - 1 seat and 7.6% of the vote.
People before profit - 1 seat and 1% of the vote.

Question 24

What are the advantages of STV?

Answer 24

• Delivers proportional outcomes which lends more legitimacy.
• The government is reliant on power sharing which gives smaller parties a voice.
• Voters can choose from a number of candidates including ones from the same party.

Question 25

What is the current power sharing deal in Northern Ireland?

Answer 25

Currently the executive in Northern Ireland is made up of Sinn Fein, DUP, Alliance and the UUP. First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy Emma Little-Pengelly.

Question 26

What are the disadvantages of STV?

Answer 26

• Large Multi member constituencies weaken link between MP’s and public.
• Likely to produce a coalition government which may be unstable and lead to disproportionate power for smaller parties.
• The Counting process is lengthy and complex.

Question 27

What was the turnout in the 2022 Northern Ireland assembly election?

Answer 27

63.6% of the electorate turned out to vote.

Question 28

How often has power sharing failed in Northern Ireland?

Answer 28

For about 40% of the time since the Good Friday agreement was signed Northern Ireland had no government.

With the most recent example lasting from 2022-2024.

Question 29

What are the main features of AMS?

Answer 29

• A proportion of seats are elected through first past the post and the rest are elected in multi member constituencies.
• Electors cast two votes, one for their single member constituency and one for their party in the regional constituency.
• D’Hondt formula applies meaning that they add extra representatives from the party list selection to increase proportionality.

Question 30

Advantages of the AMS system?

Answer 30

• Balances FPTP and PR effectively.
• Results are broadly proportional and votes are less likely to be wasted.
• Voters have a greater choice with split ticket voting allowed.
• Some parties use AMS to raise the number of Women.
• Votes are easy to count and not difficult for voters to understand the results.

Question 31

What were the results of the 2021 Scottish Parliament election?

Answer 31

SNP - 64 seats with 48% in the Constituency vote and 40% in the regional vote.
Conservatives - 31 Seats with 22% in Constituency vote and 24% in regional vote.
Labour - 22 seats with 22% in the Constituency vote and 18% in regional vote.
Scottish Greens - 8 Seats.
LIb Dems - 4 Seats.

Question 32

What was the turnout in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election?

Answer 32

63.5% at constituency and regional level.

Question 33

What was the turnout in the Swedish 2022 election and the Danish 2022 election?

Answer 33

Sweden - 84.2%.
Denmark - 83.7%.

Question 34

What are the disadvantages of AMS?

Answer 34

• People are represented at two levels which may lead to clashes between MP’s.
• Parties have significant control over closed party lists and cannot choose candidates from the same party.
• Smaller parties are often underrepresented.
• Proportional outcomes are less likely when member counts are low.

Question 35

What could be gained by having Coalition Governments in the UK?

Answer 35

In recent years devolved assemblies have had to rely heavily on coalitions with smaller parties for example in Scotland the SNP is one seat short of a majority and therefore, has a coalition with the greens which leaves more people represented.

The 2010 - 2015 Coalition Government was also successful in passing large amounts of policy. For example tripling student loans and reducing austerity.

Question 36

Give examples of electoral reforms in the UK?

Answer 36

During the Coalition Government the LibDems pushed for the introduction of an AV electoral system however, a referendum denied them this.

Tony Blaire introduced a number of regional assemblies with a selection of different voting systems.

2022 Election Reform Act removed SV from mayoral elections.

Question 37

In the 2019 election how many seats were won by a margin of 10% or less?

Answer 37

141 constituencies out of 650 which is about 22% were won by margins of 10% or less.

Question 38

What are the arguments in favor of having referendums?

Answer 38

Direct Democracy - They give the public direct control over policy as their views are clearly articulated not distorted by their representatives.

Political education - It widens the debate on an issue and in turn creates a better educated electorate who have a stronger incentive to think and act politically.

Responsive Government - They force the government to b more responsive in between elections by making them listen to public opinion. Shows public opinion on a particular issue which is not possible during elections.

Reduced Government power - It provides a check as it has less outcome over result of referendums than it does over parliament.

Constitutional changes - It is appropriate that constitutional changes are done through referendum as they are more important than any other laws, currently utilized in Denmark.

Question 39

What are the arguments against having referendums?

Answer 39

Ill informed decisions - The general public are less informed than elected officials as they have no political experience therefore, it is in the best interest of the public to rely upon politicians.

Weakens Parliament - Referendums undermine parliamentary sovereignty and decisions are not made on the basis of deliberation and debate.

Irresponsible Government - Governments are elected to govern and should make policy decisions and be held accountable for said decisions, instead of handing over responsibilities to the public.

Strengthens Government - Governments can decide upon which decisions referendums are called for, they frame the question and dominate debate surrounding it, automatic basis.

Unreliable views - They provide a gauge of public opinions at the time therefore, they are unreliable if it will have a long lasting impact for example a constitutional change.

Question 40

Debates on why different electoral systems are used in the UK?

Answer 40

Scotland - 73 of its members are elected through constituencies whilst 56 are elected at an area level. This system is used as it introduces a higher level of proportionality as the SNP dominate at constituency level but perform worse at regional level in turn giving smaller parties representation.

Wales - 40 of their MPs are elected at a constituency level whilst another 20 are elected in regional votes which in turn once again improves proportionality and representation in Wales.

Northern Ireland - MPs are elected through a droop quota and is made up of 90 members. The system is deigned to force unionist and nationalist parties to cooperate and form a power sharing agreement in order to prevent religious tensions from flaring up in Northern Ireland again.

Question 41

What is the positive impact of First Past the Vote on the Government in the UK?

Answer 41

It creates a close MP constituency relationship - As there is only one MP per constituency there generally is a stronger relationship leading to people feeling more represented in parliament. It also means that if voters don’t like their MP they can recall them through a recall election. Creates separation between MP and Government.

One Party Strong Government - Usually one party will win the election which means that the winning party gets 5 years to put its policies into place. Coalitions are rare such as in 2010 which provides stable government.

Simplicity - It is very easy to understand and engage in which leads to relatively decent turnouts however, 3rd party voters are often put off from engaging.

Question 42

What is the negative impact of First Past the Vote on the Government in the UK?

Answer 42

Minority of the vote - In most constituencies the winning candidate has more votes against them than in further, some elected for as little of 35% which is a weak minority, the winning party get less than 50% of the vote usually.

Parties do not always gain fair representation - the system can lead to disproportionate outcomes at national level. For example Labour received 18.4% of the vote in Scotland and only won 1 MP whilst the Lib Dems won 4 MPs.

Tactical Voting - People vote tactically if they believe that their preferred candidate won’t win the election. This happens very frequently in safe seats as for example Labour voters in Conservative safe seats tend to vote Lib Dem meaning that people aren’t voting for who they align with.