electoral systems Flashcards
What is FPTP and how does it work?
An electoral system where voters vote for one candedate to represent their constituency, voters put an x next to the candidate they would like to be represented by and the votes are counted. Whoever has the most votes - even if it just by a single vote - wins. It is a winner takes all or plurality system.
where is fptp used?
elections to the houses of common, councils, london mayoral elections.
What is AMS and how does it work?
AMS is a hybrid system that combines FPTP and a proporotional representation system. Voters get two votes - one for their constituency, where they vote for a candedate, and one for a regional closed party list. Constituencies races are decided using first past the post. The regional seats are then allocated using the D’hondt formula (regional votes / number of constituencies won in region +1), this is to assign seats in a more proportionate manner.
Where is AMS used? How many seats in the main one
Scotland - 76 constituency seats and 56 regional seats
Wales
What is the Single transferable vote (STV) system and how does it work?
STV is a proportional representation system.
* There are usually 6 seats to be won in each constituency
* Parties can put up as many candedates in a consituency as there are seats to be won (though they usually don’t)
* Voters are given a ballot paper with all thhe candidates who are running in their constituency. They then rank the candidates in order of preference (1 next to their first choice, 2 next to their second choice etc…). They can rank as many or as little candidates as they want
* At the count, an electoral quota is calculated. This is the total number of votes cast divided by seats available plus one. One is added to the final aswer
* All the first choice votes are counted, and whoever reaches the quota is automatically elected
* The candidate that comes last is eliminated, and those who put them as their first choice now get their second choice assigned to candidates.
* If this gives a candidate enough votes to win, they are elected.
* This process continues untill all seats have been allocated.
Where is stv used?
Northern irish assembly
What is Supplementary vote (SV) and how does it work?
SV is a majoritarian system used to elect a single candidate in a constituency.
* Voters have two choices, their first choice candidate and their second choice
* all the first choice votes are counted, if a candidate wins a majority from these first choice votes they are automatically elected.
* If no candidate wins an absolute majority, than the two candidates with the most votes remain while all the other candidates are eliiminated. The second choice votes of the eliminaed candidates are then added to the totals of the two remaining candidates to declare a winner
Where is SV used?
No where major, some local mayoral elections.
What are 4 general advantages of fptp?
- it is a simple system
- In theory, it means representatives are closely tied to their consituency
- reduces the threat of extremist parties
- it produces an outright winner
What are 6 general negatives of fptp
- unproportional
- gives an advantage to parties with geographically concentrated support, eg the SNP (and vice versa)
- supports a two party system
- wasted votes
- It creates a system of safe and marginal seats
- government usually wins much less than an overall majority
What is a safe seat?
A safe seat is a constituency where one party holds such a considerable lead over the runner up that the race is effectively a foregone conclusion
What is a marginal seat?
Where the majority of the incumbent is small enough that the election is very contestable
What has happened to the number of marginal seats in the 2024 election?
Nearly one in every five seats – 115 in total – was won by a margin of 5% or less of total votes cast. There were 48 more seats in this marginal category than at the 2019 general election.
What are 5 general advantages of AMS
- proportional
- two votes so allows for split ticket voting
- keeps a constituency - representative bond
- gives a chance for smaller parties to influence the political system
- government has a larger mandate
Whata are 3 drawbacks of ams
- reduced strength of government
- extremist parties
- complicated
What are the general benefits of STV?
much the same as ams
* more choice
What are the drawbacks of stv?
- election of extremist candidates
- very complicated and time consuming
- extremist parties
- as there are six candidates per constituency, who is accountable for decisions is more complex
What are the advantages of SV
- The winnning canidate has an absolute majority
- simplelmore choice
what are the drawbacks of sv
- wasted votes
- a candidate can win on secondary choices
- entrenches two party system
- not very proportional
Evidence that fptp should be replaced because it is unfair and disproprtionately favours larger/more concentrated parties?
Labour - 33.7% of the vote and 63.2% of seatss
Reform - 14.3% of the vote yet only 0.8% of seats
- pluralistic, winner takes all approach - parties with dispersed support struggle to win any seat outright - democratic deficit - tyranny of the minority - limits the ability of smaller parties to represent the views of the electorate who voted for them.
Evidence that AMS is more proportionate?
AMS - D’hondt formula - uses regional seats to address imbalances in constituency seats.
2021: SNP won 44.2% of the vote and won 49.1% of seats, Labour won 19.8% of the vote and won 17.1% of seats. Much more representative.
Evidence that the lack of proportionately for smaller parties is a somewhat a good thing?
reduces the chaances of extremist parties gaining lots of seats - reform is a populist party that if given the chance to govern could harm democracy.
However, all voters must be represented whether people call their views extrme or not.
Evidence that FPTP creates a system of safe and marginal seats
in 2019, 316 out of 650 seats were considred safe.
* MPs in these constituencies will be much less accountable
* in addition, it means voters in safe seats are not worth as much as those in marginal seats, meaning their votes are ‘wasted’. 70.8% of votes in 2019 were wasted.
* This could discourage turnout and make society less plural
