Types of electoral systems Flashcards
What are the advantages of the FPTP system
Close MP- Constituency relationship: One representative is elected for each constituency, meaning that there will be a strong MP/constituency relationship. This also means if the voters do not like their MP they can get rid of an individual person
One strong party government: Usually one party wins the election meaning they have 5 years to pass their legislative plans (accoridng to the manifesto.) The conservative party won in 2019.
Simplicity: The FPTP system is easily understood and familiar. Voters were given the chance to get rid of the FPTP system to replace it with an AV voting system in 2011. The UK chose to keep it. Clear choice between candidates.
Disadvantages of the FPTP system
Minority vote: In most constituencies more people in total vote against the winning candidate than for them. Sometimes an MP can be elected on a vote as low as only 35%. The winning party is also usually elected by less than 50% of the voters. This happened in 2019 as the conservatives only won 43.6% of the vote.
Parties do not always gain fair rep: In 2015, UKIP polled 12.6% of the vote but returned only 1 MP in 2019, Labour received 18% of the vote in Scotland but only returned 1 MP. However, the liberal democrats received 9.5% of the vote and returned 4 MPs.
Tactical voting: It is argued that FPTP encourages tactical voting, where people choose not to vote as they think they will play little help in electing their candidate. E.g in a constituency or seat that usually returns to a Conservative MP, there is little point in a voter choosing Labour as they are unlikely to have their candidate elected. Where this happens, and it happens, people may vote not for a candidate they prefer but against a candidate they dislike. Safe seats take up 2/3 of the constituencies in the UK, in 2010 66% of MPS didn’t receive at least 50% of the vote in their constituency.
What is SV?
2 candidates ranked in order of preference. Candidates in an SV election must get more than 50% of the vote or first preference to win out right.
Advantages of SV
Simplicity: SV only requires one round of voting in an election, as opposed to other preferential systems that require a second round of voting for remaining candidates. It also only asks voters to rank their two favourite candidates, rather than potentially ranking all the candidates in an election, like AV vote
Positive campaigning: Candidates are encouraged to seek support beyond their core base of support by trying to win the second preference votes of other candidates. Therefore, creating a less confrontational approach to political campaigning.
Voting third-party candidates: Because it is possible to cast a second preference, voters are encouraged to vote sincerely for their preferred candidate, regardless of their chance of getting to the top two. Mitigates tactical voting. Although voters may choose to cast a tactical second preference.
Disadvantages
Limited Preferences: SV only allows voters to express their first and second preferences, which in some views, is a restrictive system. It doesn’t capture the full spectrum of voter preferences, particularly in crowded fields with multiple candidates, therefore it is also harder for small parties to gain power- 2021 GM mayor 32.7% of votes went to a losing candidate.
Complex System: Compared to the simplicity of FPTP, SV can be slightly more complicated for voters to understand. The need to express second preference might confuse some voters or dissuade them from participating.
Partial Wasted Votes: While SV aims to remove ‘wasted votes’, it doesn’t completely eliminate them. If a voter’s first-choice candidate is eliminated, only then is their second preference considered. Hence, there is still a chance the second preference won’t be counted. In 2021 GM mayor 32.7% of votes went to a losing candidate.
Advantages and disadvantages of AMS
