Electoral Systems Examples

Question 1

Example of a small party being unfairly marginalised due to FPTP

Answer 1

2015 election - UKIP attained one seat with 12%
HOWEVER, they saw their single-issue be taken on by the Conservatives

Question 2

Example of voter apathy in a safe seat

Answer 2

2019 - East Hull (Labour since 1935) had a turnout of 49%

Question 3

Percentage of safe seats?

Answer 3

2019 - Electoral Reform Society predicted the outcome in 49% of all seats, proving the certainty of safe seats

Question 4

Wasted votes/Winner’s bonus example?

Answer 4

2019 Election Lib Dem V Conservative
- LD: 11% of vote to 0.02% (11) seats
[336,000 votes per seat]
- Cons: 44% of the vote to 56% (365) seats
[38,300 voted per seat]

Question 5

Better in Proportional Representation nations?

Answer 5

TURNOUT Swedish 2022 election election 84% turnout as opposed to UK 2019 election - 67%
PROPORTIONALITY Swedish SDP 2022 - 31% seats 30% votes + Conservatives 2019 - 56% seats 44% votes
HOWEVER proportional representation has weaker MP constituency link due to multi member constituencies

Question 6

Brexit and illegitimacy (2019)

Answer 6

More people voted for parties that were against finalising Brexit. 48% voted for anti-Brexit Labour, SNP and Lib Dem whilst only 44% voted for Conservative (‘Get Brexit Done’)

Question 7

UK turnout comparison FPTP, AMS, STV

Answer 7

2019 UK: 67%
2021 Scottish: 63.5%
2021 Senedd: 46.6%
2022 N. Ire. Assembly: 63.6%

Question 8

STV Evaluation

Answer 8

• Proportionality promotes stability and representation
• Power sharing between Unionists and Nationalists (currently 27 Sinn Fein, 24 DUP)
• Small parties not marginalised e.g. SDLP has 7 seats, People Before Profit (Trotskyist) has 1, Traditional Unionist Voice has 1
• BUT disagreement causes government suspensions - 2022 to Feb 2024