The Electoral System

Question 1

What are the origins and basic features of the Irish electoral system ?

Answer 1

• Thomas Hare (UK) and Carl George Andrae (Denmark), 1850s
• Used at national level
  Ireland, Malta (Australian Senate)
• Sub-national elections: Northern Ireland Assembly, Scottish local elections, Australian states

Question 2

How does the electoral system protected by the constitution.

Answer 2

Article 16.2

3. The ratio between the number of members to be elected at any time for each constituency and the population of each constituency ….shall, so far as it is practicable, be the same throughout the country. - prevents “malapportionment”
4. The members shall be elected on the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. - must be STV
5. No law shall be enacted whereby the number of members to be returned for any constituency shall be less than three. - minimum of 3 TDs per constituency

Question 3

What are the basic features of an STV ?

Answer 3

• A ‘proportional system’

Electoral formula (designed to elect more than 1 TD per constituency)

District magnitude (multi-seat constituencies)

• A ‘preferential system’

Ballot structure (votes for candidates)

Counting mechanics

Question 4

What is the electoral formula ?

Answer 4

Droop quota

Quota = Total valid votes / no. of seats + 1

In a single seat contest :

Quota = [100/(1+1)] + 1

50% + 1 vote

Question 5

What is the district magnitude ?

Answer 5

This applies to multi-seat constituencies.

Number of seats

V/(2 + 1) + 1 = 33.3% + 1 vote
V/(3 + 1) + 1 = 25.0% + 1 vote
V/(4 + 1) + 1 = 20.0% + 1 vote
V/(5 + 1) + 1 = 16.7% + 1 vote
…
V/(9 + 1) + 1 = 10.0% + 1 vote

Question 6

Describe the ballot structure of the Irish electoral system ?

Answer 6

Candidates arranged alphabetically

• Dublin Bay North 2016 = 5 seats, 20 candidates

Question 7

What are the counting mechanics of the Irish electoral system ?

Answer 7

See image from the Professor’s Power Point on Desktop titled “Counting Mechanics - Irish Electoral System”

Question 8

What is a component of chance that applies to this electoral system ?

Answer 8

• Non-monotonicity

See ‘Tom, Dick, Harry & Shirley’

• How are transfers dealt with?
• Alphabetical voting

Question 9

What are some consequences of STV ?

Answer 9

1. Proportionality consequences
   - Party system
   - Government system
   - Descriptive representation

IRISH STV = SEMI PROPORTIONAL SYSTEM

Ex: Small district magnitude (3-5 seat constituencies)

2. Strategic (preferential) consequences
   - Role of TDs
   - Campaign styles

Question 10

What are the professor’s conclusion concerning Irish STV ?

Answer 10

1. Not a commonly used system
2. Complex
3. Consequences?
   - Semi-proportional
   - Localism – but may not be to blame

Question 11

Discuss the Irish electoral landscape.

Answer 11

Over five decades from 1970 to 2020, Ireland has witnessed a remarkable level of electoral activity, encompassing 37 general elections, 38 constitutional referendums, and various other local and European electoral contests. This plethora of electoral opportunities is underpinned by a complex framework of constitutional provisions, statutory laws, and regulations established by independent commissions. This framework has remained largely consistent, emphasizing principles such as the franchise by secret ballot, proportional representation, and equal rebalancing of constituencies. (Carty, 2021)

Question 12

How is the electoral system in Ireland linked to the country’s constitution ?

Answer 12

The electoral system in Ireland is deeply rooted in its constitution, initially established in 1922 and later confirmed in 1937. The constitution guarantees universal adult suffrage, the right to run for office, and mandates the use of the single transferable vote (STV) system for proportional representation. The system ensures that elections are held in legally demarcated constituencies of relatively small size, fostering a constituency-centered politics. (Carty, 2021)

Question 13

What is Single Transferable Voting (STV) ?

Answer 13

Ireland’s use of the STV system for elections is noteworthy. Unlike many other democracies, Ireland and Malta are the only countries that utilize STV for choosing members of their national parliaments’ lower houses. STV is candidate-centered, allowing voters to express ordinal preferences. While it ensures proportional outcomes in multi-member districts, it operates as a majoritarian alternative vote system in presidential contests or by-elections. (Carty, 2021)

Question 14

How does the electorate feel about STV in Ireland ?

Answer 14

Despite occasional debates and attempts by political actors to alter the electoral system, Irish voters have consistently demonstrated support for STV through referendums and conventions. The electoral system’s resilience is reflected in the rejection of proposals to abolish multi-member constituencies and STV, emphasizing the electorate’s positive commitment to the system. (Carty, 2021)

Question 15

How many electorate expansions have taken place in Ireland ?

Answer 15

Ireland has witnessed significant expansions of the franchise over time, including lowering the voting age to eighteen in 1973 and enfranchising more residents, especially following its accession to the European Community in 1984. Recent debates focus on proposals to lower the voting age to sixteen and extend voting rights in presidential elections to the Irish diaspora. (Carty, 2021)

Question 16

Discuss referendum dynamics in the electoral system.

Answer 16

Referendums play a crucial role in Irish democracy, with three times as many referendum voting opportunities as general elections in the last half-century. The majority of referendums have been passed, often initiated by the Oireachtas. The judiciary’s decisions, particularly the Crotty and McKenna cases, have influenced the frequency and dynamics of referendums, requiring constitutional amendments and limiting government spending on referendum campaigns. (Carty, 2021)

Question 17

What is the main challenge that accompanies referendum campaigns ?

Answer 17

The absence of consistent oversight standards or practices for referendum campaigns poses challenges in generating thoughtful public debates. Recent governments anticipate continued high referendum activity, necessitating the creation of ad hoc commissioners for each referendum, which hampers the development of consistent oversight. (Carty, 2021)

Question 18

What are the aims of Ireland’s general election framework ?

Answer 18

Ireland’s electoral institutions aim to balance local representation and proportional party representation. Representatives are elected in small, multi-member districts, ensuring a close connection between constituents and representatives.

Statutory provisions mandate regular revisions of constituency boundaries to maintain the equality of the vote, although historical practices and county boundaries influence these revisions. (Carty, 2021)

Question 19

Discuss diversity in party affiliation in Ireland’s candidacy.

Answer 19

Access to the ballot is relatively straightforward, allowing individuals to self-nominate after paying a small deposit. This facilitates the participation of non-party candidates, with over a third of candidates in recent elections having no partisan affiliation. Parties have sought to assert greater control over constituency nominations, leading to tensions between local and national interests. (Carty, 2021)

Question 20

How does Ireland work to increase the number of women candidates ?

Answer 20

Recent changes in the political funding regime introduced gender quotas, requiring parties to field at least 30% women candidates. This change has significantly impacted party nominations, leading to an increase in the proportion of female TDs in the Dáil. (Carty, 2021)

Question 21

What is a candidate focussed ballot ?

Answer 21

In STV (Single Transferable Vote) elections in Ireland, voters encounter a ballot that prioritizes individual candidates over party affiliation. The ballot lists candidates alphabetically and includes their pictures, logos, and local addresses to aid identification. Instead of voting for a party, voters are instructed to rank candidates in order of preference, a system that has become increasingly popular since the decline of strong party identifications since the 1980s. (Carty, 2021)

Question 22

How has voting behaviour in Ireland changed over the years ?

Answer 22

With the shift away from straight-ticket party voting, voters now prioritize various criteria, often centered around local and candidate-specific factors, when ranking candidates. This trend has significantly decreased the rate of ‘intra-party solidarity,’ meaning fewer voters strictly adhere to voting along party lines. (Carty, 2021)

Question 23

How has this shift away from party and toward candidate voting affected Irish politics ?

Answer 23

This change in voter behavior has reshaped electoral campaigning, leading candidates to focus more on personalized appeals for voter support rather than broad partisan appeals. Local organizations have adapted to support candidates’ individualized campaigns, reflecting a more personalized approach to politics. (Carty, 2021)

Question 24

Discuss the STV’s counting process.

Answer 24

After polls close, ballot boxes are moved to a central location for counting. The counting process involves several stages. Initially, only the first preferences on the ballots are counted. Candidates who meet or exceed the ‘Droop quota’ (a threshold based on the total valid votes divided by one more than the number of seats) are elected. Surplus votes from elected candidates are then transferred to the next indicated preference, while candidates with the fewest votes are eliminated, and their votes are redistributed according to lower preferences. This process continues until all seats are filled. (Carty, 2021)

Question 25

What has been the impact of electronic voting on Ireland ?

Answer 25

Despite an experiment with electronic balloting in 2002 to streamline voting and counting processes, concerns over security and public dissatisfaction led to a return to traditional paper and pencil voting. The failure of this experiment resulted in a financial loss for the state and delayed further attempts at modernizing the process. (Carty, 2021)

Question 26

What are some limits to the representational quota in Ireland ?

Answer 26

The electoral quota in STV elections in Ireland is relatively small, allowing candidates to have personal connections with most of their electors. However, despite this personalized campaigning, only a small percentage of candidates secure election on the first count, with many relying on transfers from other candidates to secure their seats. (Carty, 2021)

Question 27

What is the impact of STV on politics in Ireland ?

Answer 27

STV elections have significant implications for Irish political culture. The system’s candidate-centered approach fosters a conservative political culture, with individual politicians focusing on constituency competition rather than national policy issues. This dynamic results in a Dáil (parliament) composed of electorally insecure politicians and limited turnover, as incumbents often retain their seats despite the electoral volatility.

o Institutional changes in electoral framework have occurred, but STV system remains influential.

o STV fosters and sustains Ireland’s traditional ‘friends and neighbours’ culture and political relationships.

o Some changes include constituency size limitations, non-partisan boundary revisions, financial regulations, ballot design, and reduction in voting age. (Carty, 2021)

Question 28

Discuss independent candidates within the system of STV.

Answer 28

STV elections provide opportunities for independents to win seats, influencing both electoral and parliamentary politics. With the increased presence of independents in the Dáil, government formation becomes more focused on numerical considerations rather than ideological or policy-based decisions. (Carty, 2021)

Question 29

How have the Irish voting behaviours within the framework of STV differed from other states such as Malta ?

Answer 29

Irish voters utilize the STV system differently from voters in other systems, often focusing on candidates’ personal service records rather than party labels. Despite the opportunity to rank multiple candidates, many voters only rank a few, leading to non-transferable votes and contributing to the unpredictability of final outcomes. (Carty, 2021)

Question 30

Discuss the Irish politics of representation.

Answer 30

The STV system in Ireland fosters a politics of representation over decision-making. By prioritizing local candidate-centered competitions, voters hold their TDs (members of parliament) accountable but not necessarily their governments, resulting in a unique political landscape where representation takes precedence over policymaking. (Carty, 2021)

Question 31

How have parties changed within this electoral system ?

Answer 31

o Parties, especially those aiming to form governments, have become more centralized, disciplined, and professionally managed.

o Ireland’s demographic landscape has undergone dramatic restructuring, with an urban, educated, and affluent electorate increasingly engaged with global economic imperatives. (Carty, 2021)

Question 32

How have electoral politics in Ireland changed ?

Answer 32

o Despite changes, the essence of Irish electoral politics remains largely unchanged.

o Observers note similarities between mid-century elections and contemporary ones.

o Seismic shifts in society, economy, and politics not fully reflected in electoral arena due to parties redirecting political demands elsewhere. (Carty, 2021)

Question 33

What were the impacts of the Great Recession on electoral reform ?

Answer 33

During the depths of the Great Recession, electoral reform gained significant traction in Ireland, particularly evident in the 2011 general election where all political parties incorporated reform proposals into their manifestos, reflecting the heightened urgency for change during the economic downturn. (Farrell et al., 2016)

Question 34

Discuss the desire for personalization of the electoral system in Ireland.

Answer 34

1. Trends in Electoral Reform: The text suggests that electoral reforms globally have leaned towards proportional systems over time, rather than moving away from them. This trend is particularly notable in postwar Europe, where there has been a shift towards systems that offer greater personalization, giving voters more influence over individual candidates.
2. The evolution of electoral reform debates in Ireland is outlined, indicating a transition from earlier discussions focused on proportional representation to more recent debates centered on personalization. This shift is attributed to the agendas set by political party leaderships, contrasting with the ambivalence among the general population. (Farrell et al., 2016)

Question 35

What is STV and why is it perhaps not efficient in Ireland ?

Answer 35

Ireland’s use of the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system for national elections is discussed, emphasizing its unique features such as allowing voters to rank candidates across parties and prioritizing personal over party campaigns. Despite being considered a proportional system, STV’s effectiveness is questioned due to the small constituencies in Ireland. (Farrell et al., 2016)

Question 36

What are the origins of Ireland’s electoral system ?

Answer 36

The historical origins of Ireland’s electoral system are traced back to the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, which led to the adoption of proportional representation.

Subsequent attempts in the 1950s and 1960s to replace STV with a British-style plurality system were met with resistance and ultimately unsuccessful.

The influence of British electoral practices on Ireland’s adoption and retention of STV is highlighted, with the text suggesting that former British colonies like Ireland often experimented with electoral reforms that diverged from British norms. (Farrell et al., 2016)

Question 37

Discuss localism in Irish politics.

Answer 37

Irish representative politics is characterized by legendary localism, where TDs (members of the Irish Parliament) prioritize constituency work to an extent not commonly seen in other democracies.

A 2009 survey revealed that over half of TDs’ time was spent on constituency work, with only a minority dedicated to their parliamentary roles.

This excessive focus on local issues is associated with weak parliamentary accountability over the government, contributing to a perception of the Irish Parliament as one of the weakest among established European democracies. (Farrell et al., 2016)

Question 38

What is the impact of localism on the quality of elected representatives ?

Answer 38

The emphasis on constituency work is argued to have a detrimental effect on the quality of individuals elected to the Irish Parliament. This phenomenon, observed in other countries as well, suggests that the nature of the role attracts individuals more inclined towards local service than national policymaking. Critics contend that this dynamic limits the talent pool available for political leadership and governance, potentially exacerbating governance challenges. (Farrell et al., 2016)

Question 39

How did this weak body of representation influence the Great Recession ?

Answer 39

The vision of Irish parliamentary politics characterized by TDs functioning as social workers, weak parliamentary oversight, and limitations on the talent pool of politicians has been cited by commentators as a contributing factor to Ireland’s recent economic crisis. Political leaders and commentators, including former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald and Labour party general secretary Brendan Halligan, attribute these issues to Ireland’s electoral system, particularly the STV system. (Farrell et al., 2016)

Question 40

How does the electoral system impact parliamentary cohesion ?

Answer 40

Despite the localism prevalent in Irish politics, parliamentary party cohesion remains remarkably high, with TDs generally adhering to party lines in parliamentary votes. This cohesion is unusual given the inherent tension between constituency interests and national party objectives. The separation of spheres—constituency-focused work and national party politics—allows TDs to reconcile conflicting roles, contributing to high levels of party discipline in the Irish Parliament. (Farrell et al., 2016)

Question 41

What is the purpose of proportional representation ?

Answer 41

Electoral systems significantly shape a country’s politics, influencing its party system and the accuracy of translating voter preferences into parliamentary representation. The principle of proportional representation (PR) aims to ensure a close alignment between voting patterns and parliamentary composition, although perfect proportionality is rarely achieved in real-life elections. (Gallagher, 2023)

Question 42

Give an example that highlights the complexity of the counting process.

Answer 42

An example from the 2020 general election in Dublin South-Central illustrates the complexity of the counting process. Candidates can be elected with preferences from later counts, showcasing the importance of vote transfers in determining election outcomes. (Gallagher, 2023)

Question 43

What is the impact of vote transfer on the electoral system ?

Answer 43

Vote transfers play a crucial role in determining election outcomes under PR-STV. Candidates may benefit from transfers, potentially changing their position from initial preferences to eventual election. The transferability of votes influences voter behavior and candidate strategies, impacting election dynamics and parliamentary representation.

Approximately 30% of votes are transferred at least once during the process, with an additional 10% or more being examined for their next preference.

In the example provided in Table 4.1, a total of 17,929 votes were transferred at least once, comprising votes transferred from eliminated candidates and those initially cast for the eliminated candidates.

A further 8,659 votes remained with one candidate throughout the count but influenced the allocation of surplus votes based on second preferences.

This means that second, third, and even later preferences may become relevant during the count, demonstrating the complexity and depth of the PR-STV system. (Gallagher, 2023)

Question 44

What are the 4 aims of PR-STV ?

Answer 44

1. Avoiding wasted votes by allowing votes to transfer to other candidates when the initial choice is eliminated or does not require the vote.
2. Maximizing voters’ ability to choose candidates both within and across parties.
3. Preserving a close territorial connection between voters and their representatives.
4. Allowing for the expression of voter preferences beyond party lines, particularly in cases where issues or factors other than party affiliation are salient. (Gallagher, 2023)

Question 45

Discuss the accuracy of representation in Ireland.

Answer 45

It highlights the discrepancy between vote shares and seat shares, indicating that while PR-STV aims to deliver proportional outcomes based on voter preferences, the system’s operation may not always align perfectly with this goal.

Factors contributing to disproportionality include the role of lower preferences and vote transfers, as well as the small district magnitude in Irish constituencies compared to other PR systems. (Gallagher, 2023)

Question 46

When did coalition-building become introduced to Ireland ?

Answer 46

Fianna Fáil’s shift towards coalition-building in 1989 marked a pivotal change, altering the perception of coalitions within the Irish party system. (Gallagher, 2023)

Question 47

Discuss stability in Irish politics.

Answer 47

Despite perceptions, Irish experience doesn’t conform to the stereotype of short-lived, unstable multi-party governments. While there have been flurries of elections, the average time between general elections has been over three years. Most coalition governments historically comprised only two parties, with only a few exceptions involving three or more parties. (Gallagher, 2023)

Question 48

How is the Irish party cohesion influenced by personalization brought about by the STV ?

Answer 48

Despite the potential for TDs to cultivate personal support bases, Irish parliamentary parties exhibit high levels of cohesion. Votes against the party line in the Dáil are rare, reflecting strong commitment to party discipline among TDs. Discontent with government proposals is often voiced internally, contributing to overall party cohesion. (Gallagher, 2023)