Impact Of Diffetent Elecyoral Sustems

Question 1

Third parties

Answer 1

Proportional and hybrid/mixed electoral systems are much fairer for third parties. The use of AMS in the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and London Assembly elections has helped third parties to turn their considerable but thinly spread support into
seats.
For example, UKIP failed to win any constituency seats in the 2016 Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and London Assembly. However, it had enough support across Wales and London to win seven ‘top-up’ seats in Wales and two
“top-up’ London Assembly seats.

Question 2

Seats reflect votes

Answer 2

AMS has ensured that the number of seats won more closely reflects votes. In the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections, the SN won 59 of the 73 constituencies with just 47 per cent of the vote. But the party only received four list seats, despite winning 42 per cent of the regional vote. Most of the list seats went to Labour and the Conservatives, who won a combined 45 per cent of the constituency vote, but only 10 out of 73 constituency seats. The end result was much more proportionate and reflective of the vote: Scottish Conservatives had 31 seats (24 per cent) and Scottish Labour 24 seats (19 per cent) (see page 26 for more on how AMS works in practice).

Question 3

Coalitions

Answer 3

The use of more proportional electoral systems has made majority government less likely as PR systems tend to produce multi-party systems, meaning that parties work together in coalition governments or alone in minority governments. Some argue that past Scottish and Welsh governments have proven that minority and coalition government can be effective.
• The 2011 Scottish Parliament election resulted in an SNP majority government, the 1999 and 2003 elections produced a Labour/Lib Dem coalition, and the 2007 and 2016 elections resulted in an SN minority government.
• The 1999 Welsh Assembly election resulted in a Labour/ Lib Dem coalition, while the 2003 and 2016 elections resulted in a Labour minority government.

Question 4

Multi-party system

Answer 4

STV in Northern Ireland results in a multi-party system. In the Northern Ireland Assembly, there is a complex process of power-sharing intended to include both Unionist and Nationalist parties.
• In 2011, there were five parties represented in the NI Executive (like a Cabinet) and a First and Deputy Minister of different parties. This was also true in 2007.
• Five of the larger parties all achieved significant representation in the Assembly and were awarded places in a power-sharing government.
STV elected representatives from eight different parties as well as independents in NI Assembly elections.

Question 5

Positives for reform

Answer 5

Majoritarian systems give stronger individual mandates (see page 25 for more information on how this works). Majoritarian systems, like the Supplementary Vote, place much greater emphasis on winning a majority of the vote.

Electoral reform encourages greater descriptive representation. The Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly both have a much better gender balance than Westminster, where only 32 per cent of MPs are female.

Question 6

Negatives for reform

Answer 6

Electoral reform does not necessarily increase turnout. Despite the greater choice given by the AMS and SV electoral systems, none of the 2016 elections had turnouts close to the 69 per cent who participated in the 2017 general election.

Electoral reform encourages greater descriptive representation. The Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly both have a much better gender balance than Westminster, where only 32 per cent of MPs are female.