Electoral Systems Flashcards
FPTP
First past the post - The system used for UK general elections in which the electorate vote for candidates running for parliament in their constituency and the candidate who receives the most votes wins.
STV
Single transferrable vote - STV divides a country into multi-member constituencies.
Under a system of STV, voters number their choice of candidate in order of preference.
Candidates require a certain quota to be elected, which is calculated by dividing the total votes cast by (the number of seats contested in the constituency plus one), and then adding one (the Droop formula).
If no candidate reaches the quota on the first round of voting then the candidate with the lowest votes is eliminated and the second preference of voters supporting them are redistributed.
Advantages of STV
Votes and seats are largely proportional to one another.
Parties with a more thinly distributed vote can still win seats unlike FPTP.
Encourages candidates to campaign in all areas to win over transferrable votes.
Disadvantages of STV
The link between the mp and the constituent is weaker as there are many members representing each constituency.
The voting system is more complicated than FPTP and takes longer to reach the final verdict.
Where is AMS used
The Additional Member System (AMS) is used for Welsh Assembly, Scottish Parliament and the Greater London Assembly elections.
Where is STV used?
STV is used for all Assembly, European and local government elections in Northern Ireland, and for local elections in Scotland.
AMS
Additional member system - AMS is an electoral system where voters have two votes: one vote for their constituency representative using FPTP and a second vote for a ‘party list’ in order to elect an ‘additional’ representative.
The party list uses multi-member regional constituencies and a party’s list of candidates is published before the election.
Advantages of AMS
Ensures a strong link between voter and MP as FPTP is used to vote for the constituent MP.
There is also a proportional element to it as seats are allocated to parties from the lists based on the number of votes for each party.
AMS also gives voters more support as it allows voters to choose an MP that they support and use their party list vote to support a different party.
Disadvantages of AMS
Party list candidates have less legitimacy than the FPTP candidates as they haven’t been voted in with a personal mandate.
AMS lacks transparency because the party decides who is on the list and orders the candidates
Smaller parties are more disadvantaged under AMS than under a proportional system as the party list system advantages larger parties
Where is SV used?
The Supplementary Vote (SV) is used for London Mayoral elections and to elect Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales.
SV
Supplementary Vote - In the SV system, a voter has a first and second preference vote with a candidate elected for winning more than 50% of the first preference votes.
If no candidates win over 50% of the vote, then all candidates are eliminated except the top two who will have second preference votes allocated to decide the winner.
Advantages of SV
Very simple for voters as all they need to do is just pick to candidates in order of preference.
Encourages positive campaigning as its important to get the second votes
Ensures large support for the winning candidats
Referendums
A referendum is a direct and universal vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal and can have nationwide or local forms.
A referendum tends to be yes/no or for/against etc.
Reasons for referendums
Referendums can be used in response to pressure over a particular issue that has significant importance.
Referendums can be used to ensure important gov initiatives have public approval
Referendums can result from a deal made between parties
Reasons against referendums
Referendums undermine parliamentary sovereignty
MPs are elected to make these decisions on behalf of the people
People can be manipulated by the wording of the question
The question can be oversimplified
External factors can affect votes
