P1 - Electoral System Flashcards
Where is FPTP used
Westminster Elections
How does FPTP work
candidate with the most votes wins the seat, party with the most seats form government
What are the strengths of FPTP
Tends to produce a majority
Strong MP-Constituency link
Accountability every 5 years
What are the weaknesses of FPTP
disproportionality vote share doesn’t equal seat share
safe seats lead to wasted votes or tactical voting
poor voter choice
Where is the additional member system used
Holyrood and Cardiff
How does AMS work
One FPTP ballot for constituency MP
Additional party-list ballot for regional representatives
Party-list votes are used to balance out the disproportionality of FPTP ballots
What are the strengths of AMS
High proportionality
More representative of the way electorate voted
Smaller parties have a better chance to win seats
Reduced need for tactical and wasted voting
Promotes high turnout
MP-Constituency link remains
Increased voter choice
What are the weaknesses of AMS
Likely to produce coalitions, not always
Produces two kinds of MSPs
Multiple reps for each citizen blurs who to go to
Parties control the order of candidates on the list so encourages loyalty to the party rather than the electorate
Where is the single transferrable vote
Stormont - Northern Ireland
How does STV work
Multi-member constituencies
Voters rank candidates from favoured to unfavoured
candidates elected If they achieve a quota of votes
Quota = (votes/seats + 1) + 1
What are the strengths of STV
No wasted votes
proportional votes
huge voter choice can pick candidates not just parties
Almost certain to provide representation from all sides (important given issues in NI)
What are the weaknesses of STV
Hard to see where your vote goes
Produces weak coalitions, hard to form gov
Quality of voting may decrease as you go down
Not clear who to go to in constituency due to multi-member system = lack of clear accountability
where is the Supplementary Vote used
Met Mayor elections
How does SV work
Two votes per person, first preference and second preference
winners need a majority
If no majority on the 1st preference votes all but the top two kicked out and second preferences redistributed
Winner therefore sure of majority of ‘live votes’
What are the strengths of SV
Reduced wasted votes
Remove the need for tactical voting, can vote once with head, once with heart
Winner has majority support = clear mandate
Electorate maintain the ability of accountability
