SV advantages/disadvantages

Question 1

political literacy

Answer 1

-SV encourages a form of strategic voting, forcing the electorate to engage more meaningfully with campaigns and consider multiple candidates/parties
-SV undermines absent minded partisan alignment, forcing voters to make a ‘rational choice’ based on manifestos and candidates
-23% of voters saw their second preference vote counted in 2021 mayoral contest, up from 10% a decade ago

Question 2

political literacy evaluation

Answer 2

-may force more thinking but has significant costs, 5% of ballots rejected in 2021 mayoral election, higher level of disenfranchisement than other electoral systems used in the UK, FPTP had error rate of 0.2% in 2019

Question 3

doesn’t always produce clear mandate

Answer 3

-it can fail at its core objective, to produce a majority mandate
-2012 Johnson elected on 47.8% of the vote, he then went on to initiate a number of changes in London including controversially cutting the London underground budget

Question 4

clear mandate evaluation

Answer 4

-in London SV has failed to produce a majority just once, due to the run off ballot and reallocated votes its much more decisive at producing outcomes that are acceptable to the majority of the electorate

Question 5

entrenches duopoly

Answer 5

-single member, winner takes all outcome means it is less inclusive than proportional systems
-rewards centrism as to achieve over 50% of the vote candidates must adopt a moderate stance
-every London mayoral election has been won by Labour or Conservatives
-just like FPTP voters are deprived of real choice

Question 6

entrenches duopoly evaluation

Answer 6

-SV isn’t to blame, media disproportionately focuses on ‘big two’, both parties are more effective at social representation, and campaign finance plays a role too

Question 7

marginalises extremists and populists

Answer 7

-under SV a wide coalition of voters must be built so populist or extremist parties stand little chance of success
-votes for extremists are wasted, so voters must choose centrist candidates if they wish to impact the election
-2021 mayoral election, it was clear right-wing anti-vaxer Laurence Fox stood little chance of success, so many voters either turned to the Conservatives or were apathetic (42% turnout)

Question 8

marginalises extremists and populists evaluation

Answer 8

-many candidates from the major parties could be considered populist or extreme, Sean Bailey (Con.) candiate for 2021 was accused of islamophobia