electoral systems Flashcards
Outline FPTP
Candidate with the most first-preference votes wins. A plurality must be achieved, although not necessarily a majority.
Outline STV
Voters have the option to rank candidates, and their vote may be transferred according to alternative preferences if their preferred candidate is eliminated or elected with surplus votes
Outline AMS
Mixed electoral system
Representatives elected in single-member districts as well as additional members elected from a closed list
Where is each system used?
FPTP- House of Commons
STV - Northern Ireland Assembly
AMS - Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd
Scottish Parliament
-Use of AMS allows Scottish Parliament to be more proportional and representative of smaller parties such as the Green Party
-Keeps FPTP element of close link with constituency representative
FPTP Representation
Close Mp-constituency link
Clear lines of accountability
Promotes regional representation
STV representation
Multi-member constituencies
Better minority representation
More diverse political landscape
Reduces gerrymandering
AMS representation
Combines both local and proportional representation
Overall composition of elected representatives more accurately reflects the diverse political preferences of the electorate
Increased representation for smaller parties e.g. 2021, 6 Scottish Green Party MSPs
FPTP Fairness
Malapportionment means that voters in larger constituencies see their vote carrying less weight
Welsh constituencies are on average much smaller than Scottish or English
Voters in safe seats may feel that their vote is worth less
FPTP Simplicity
Evidence suggests that turnout is lower in democracies with more complex systems such as Germany than in simpler ones such as the US or UK
FPTP Majority rule
FPTP has produced 15 majority governments and 1 formal coalition in the past 100 years of the UK
All Northern Ireland governments have been power-sharing executives under STV
FPTP Proportionality
-1951, Labour received more votes than the Conservatives, the Conservatives ‘won’ the election with 321 seats to the Labour Party’s 295 seats
-Reform UK and other smaller parties receive far less seats than their share of the vote entitles them to
-6.7% of the national vote but only 4 seats in 2024, a proportional electoral systemw ould have given them about 44 seats
-2024, Labour won 34% of the vote, resulting 63% of the House of Commons
2024 disproportionate
Tactical voting caused a spoiler effect for the Conservatives
The system rewards concentrated support
Winning by small margins in lots of places
2024 key headlines
-40% non-votes, higher than vote for any party
-1/3 of voters said they voted tactically
-Multi-party system, but was still using an electoral system designed for two-party politics
Arguments for AMS in Scotland and Wales
-Mostly proportional outcomes
-Smaller parties have secured more seats than they would under FPTP
-Local and regional interests have been well balanced
-Voter turnout has been relatively strong (64% in Scotland)
Arguments against AMS in Scotland and Wales
-Turnout in Wales was 47% in 2021
-SNP-Green cooperation agreement collapsed in 2024, SNP can face challenges in pushing through their agenda
