Electoral Systems Flashcards
Identify the 6 electoral systems used in the UK.
1) . First Past the Post
2) . Supplementary Vote
3) . Single Transferable Vote
4) . Party List
5) . Additional Members System
6) . Alternative Vote
Where is SV used?
Mayoral elections and police and crime commissioner elections.
Where is STV used?
Northern Ireland Assembly elections.
Where is AV used?
Labour party leadership elections.
Where did Party list used to be used?
MEP elections.
Where is AMS used?
Scottish and Welsh parliament elections / London Assembly elections.
Give three disadvantages of FPTP.
Disadvantages of FPTP:
❌ Winner’s bonus e.g. 1997 GE 43% vote share = 64% of the seats?!
❌ Electoral deserts - e.g. Con won 34% of vote in North East in 2017 yet only 10% of seats.
❌ ‘Safe seats’ - seats dominated by one party - 2010 66% of MPs didn’t receive at least 50% of the vote in their constituency.
❌ Wasted votes - in 2015 50% of votes went to a losing candidate.
❌ Third paries are underrepresented - e.g. Lib Dems 2015 - 23% of the vote - 9% of the seats.
Give three advantages of FPTP.
Advantages of FPTP:
✔ Strong, majority governments - e.g. 1983, 1997, 2019.
✔ Limited chance of coalition - 1 coalition since WW2 (2010).
✔ Marginalises extremist parties - 3.9 million votes for UKIP in 2015 = 1 seat. / Greens 1.1 million votes = 1 seat.
✔ Good constituency representation.
✔ Two-Party system - two horse race - clear choice between candidates.
Give an advantage and disadvantage of AMS.
✔ Party list allows for greater representation of women/BAME MPs i.e. by ‘zipping’ (switching between male and female candidates on a party list).
✔ Combines best elements of FPTP (constituency desirability) with PR (fairness of outcomes) e.g.
❌Not fully proportional e.g. 2021 Con got 22% of the vote but 7% of the seats (in constituencies).
❌ Creates two ‘classes’ of MPs - some rep constituencies whilst others rep. regions - conflicting interests on small/large scale.
Give an advantage and disadvantage of STV.
✔ Highly proportional e.g. 2017 NI assembly: DUP 28.1% vote share = 28% of the seats - crucial for power sharing to function.
✔ Votes to smaller parties/candidates aren’t wasted.
❌ Weak link between constituents and representatives e.g. Tyrone West - electorate = 66,259 - 2800 square km - MPs are unaccountable.
❌ Coalitions are likely - subject to collapse - e.g. 2017 collapse of power sharing agreement.
Give an advantage and disadvantage of SV.
✔ Fewer wasted votes - can vote for smaller candidates first then choose one of the most likely remaining two.
✔ Candidates require a broader support than FPTP candidates.
❌ Still many wasted votes e.g. 2021 GM mayor 32.7% of votes went to a losing candidate.
❌ Hard for small parties to achieve power - a two horse race at the end of the day - e.g. 2021 GM mayor election - Burnham = 67.31% of first prefs. - no chance for second preferences.
Give an advantage and disadvantage of Party list.
✔ Relatively proportional - e.g. 2019 MEP elections - Lab 24% vote = 27% of seats.
✔ Increase No of female candidates e.g. 2019 MEP - 3 parties had females at the top of their list.
❌ Weak link between constituents and representatives. e.g. 2019 MEP South East elected candidates from 5 different parties - is a GE who is accountable?
❌ Electorate have little say over their candidate - leading to voter apathy - what’s the point?
