Electoral Systems

Question 1

What is First Past The Post?

Answer 1

The candidate that receives the most votes is elected.

Question 2

What is SV used for in the UK?

Answer 2

To elect the Mayor of London and other elected mayors in England and Wales.

Question 3

What is the Supplementary Vote?

Answer 3

Voters make a 1st and 2nd preference, if a candidate receives more than 50% they are elected.
If this is not the case, all but the top 2 candidates are eliminated and the other votes redistributed.

Question 4

What is the Additional Member System?

Answer 4

Voters cast 2 votes, one for a local MP in FPTP style, and one for a party.
The second vote is in a proportional representation style.

Question 5

What is AMS used for in the UK?

Answer 5

To elect the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and the London Assembly.

Question 6

What is the Single Transferable Vote?

Answer 6

Voters rank candidates by order of preference.

A minimum number of votes is needed to be elected and surplus votes are transferred to remaining candidates.