Electoral Voting Systems of Australia

Question 1

Majoritarian Electoral System

Answer 1

Based on single-member electorates that vote for one representative to represent a specific electorate.

Ex: Preferential voting (HoR in Australia)
First Past the Post (US Senate)

Question 2

Multi-member electorate

Answer 2

Multimember electorates elect more than one member to parliament.

Ex: Proportional single-transferrable voting system (Aus Senate)

Question 3

Electoral system

Answer 3

A system that transforms votes of citizens into seats in a legislative assembly such as the Commonwealth parliament.
- can be classified as majoritarian or proportional or a blend of both

Ex: Australia’s two system electoral compromise
- Majoritarian PV in HoR; proportional STV in Senate

Question 4

General election

Answer 4

…is a process that enables citizens to elect representatives to sit in a representative legislature and act as their delegates or trustees in law-making

Essential for representative democracy

Question 5

By-election

Answer 5

An election that is held between general elections to fill a seat left vacant because an MP died, resigned, or expelled.

Ex: The 2018 Wentworth by-election, independent Dr Kerryn Phelps won Turnbull’s seat.

Question 6

Popular sovereignty

Answer 6

…is government based on the consent of the people. The government’s source of authority is the people, and its power is not legitimate if it disregards the will of the people.

Question 7

Fair election

Answer 7

1. effective and stable gov
2. accountable representatives
3. fair to electors, candidates, and parties
4. diverse representation

Question 8

Single-member electorate

Answer 8

An electorate represented in a legislature by only one member.

Ex: Commonwealth HoR voting system - based on single-member electorates

Question 9

Parliamentary representation (according to the Constitution)

Answer 9

• S24 outlines composition and election of MPs in HoR (151 seats)
• S7 outlines composition and election of the Senate (76 seats)

Question 10

Senate rotation

Answer 10

State senators have 6 year terms
Rotation that ensures only 1/2 of senators retire every 3 years.
- retains ‘elders’ who have experience from last parliament
- ensuring continuity and stability

Question 11

Proportional voting system

Answer 11

• based on multi-member electorates in which electors vote in order of preference.
• to win, candidate must achieve ‘quota’ of votes

Ex: used in Aus upper house election – proportional STV system, where parties win seats in proportion to their votes.

Question 11

First past the post (FPP)

Answer 11

• based on single-member electorates in which electors select one candidate of their choice
• winner = whoever has simple majority of votes

Ex: used in US presidential and congressional elections