electoral systems Flashcards
what are the different electoral systems
FPTP, STV, AMS, SV
where is FPTP used
UK general election + England local elections + Welsh local elections
where is STV used
Northern Irish elections + Scottish local elections
where is AMS used
Welsh elections + Scottish assembly elections
where is SV used
to elect city mayors
advantages of FPTP
simple to understand
easy to count
constituency link
no extremist parties in power
usually clear winner in each election (makes a strong and decisive govt.)
disadvantages of FPTP
winner often doesn’t have majority
votes can be “wasted”
votes can have different weights
not proportional
one candidate isn’t representative of everyone’s views
creates a 2 party system
hard for small parties
what type of system is FPTP
plurality
what type of system is AMS
Hybrid
what type of system is STV
proportional
what type of system is SV
majoritarian
advantages of STV
proportional
multiple candidates, so lots of different views represented
no “wasted” votes
helps small parties
disadvantages of STV
larger constituencies so less constituency link
longer to count votes
can be hard to understand
can elect extremists
accountability problems with lots of representatives per constituency
advantages of AMS
more proportional than FPTP
some constituency link
helps small parties without concentrated support
disadvantages of AMS
can create a two tiered system with representatives (more senior officials tend to come from party list)
more complex and confusing
extremists can be elected
advantages of SV
one clear winner
winner can claim majority support
simple
disadvantages of SV
winner may not have majority 1st choice votes
how does STV work
voters rank candidates in order they wish to see them elected and no one they don’t want elected
1st choice counted, anyone above threshold elected and their ballots next choice is counted
if no one is above threshold then least supported candidate eliminated and their ballots next choice counted
this process continues until all positions filled
threshold = (number votes)/(number candidates +1) +1
how does AMS work
voters get 2 votes. one for a constituency candidate and one for a regional list
constituency candidates elected Via FPTP (2/3 in Scotland + wales)
In Scotland and Wales there is a variable top up system with regional list, where seats awarded from the list are adjusted to give a more proportional result
parties who do less well in constituencies get proportion of list votes adjusted upward
how does SV work
voters have 2 choices
votes are cast and if any candidate gets a majority they win.
otherwise everyone apart from top 2 candidates eliminated and all their ballots get their 2nd choice vote counted. thus winner found
