October 25, Slides 1-2 Flashcards
What is the “Single Member Plurality” (SMP) electoral system?
The Single Member Plurality system, also known as “First Past the Post,” elects one representative per district based on who gets the most votes, even if they do not achieve a majority.
Why can “Single Member” districts lead to imperfect representation?
Single-member districts can amplify small vote differences into big impacts, meaning a slight majority in a riding can result in total representation, leaving significant minorities unrepresented.
How does “plurality” affect voting behavior?
Winning by plurality often encourages strategic voting, where voters choose a candidate they think can win over their preferred candidate, to prevent splitting the vote.
What is “geographic representation,” and why does it matter?
Geographic representation means voters are represented by someone in their area. However, where riding boundaries are drawn can heavily influence outcomes, leading to issues like gerrymandering.
What is gerrymandering?
Gerrymandering is the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party over others, often distorting the will of voters and undermining fair representation.
How does reducing the number of electoral districts affect representation?
Reducing districts, such as in the hypothetical “Birovia,” can consolidate votes in ways that either amplify or dilute the influence of certain groups, depending on how boundaries are drawn.
How does boundary drawing affect election outcomes in “Birovia”?
In “Birovia,” reducing from 15 to 3 districts could lead to disproportionate representation of the black or red party, depending on how the new boundaries cluster or split voters.
Why do some criticize SMP as unfair?
Critics argue that SMP can allow candidates to win with less than majority support, misrepresent the overall vote share, and concentrate power in certain areas while leaving others unrepresented.
What is an example of strategic voting in an SMP system?
A voter might prefer Candidate A but vote for Candidate B, fearing Candidate C will win if they split votes between A and other similar candidates.
What alternatives exist to SMP for fairer representation?
Alternatives like proportional representation or ranked-choice voting aim to better reflect the overall preferences of the electorate and reduce issues like gerrymandering and strategic voting.
What does SMP stand for?
Single Member Plurality electoral system
What is the Single Member Plurality (SMP) electoral system?
The Single Member Plurality (SMP) system, also known as “First Past the Post,” is an electoral system where voters in a district elect one representative, and the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of whether they achieve a majority. This system emphasizes simplicity and geographic representation but can lead to disproportional outcomes.
