Unit 1, 2.2 Elections and Voting: Electoral Systems and Electoral Reform Flashcards
Majoritarian Electoral System
Describes a system which requires a party or candidate to have over half the votes to be elected.
Plurality Electoral System
Describes a system which requires a party or candidate to have more votes than any other but not a majority to be elected.
Proportional Representation
Describes any electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them.
Alternative Vote
An electoral system in which voters rank candidates in order of preference and if no candidate achieves a sufficient majority, the candidate with the fewest first-preference rankings is removed and their votes redistributed until the required majority is reached. It is used to elect the chairs of select committees.
First-Past-the-Post
An electoral system in which separate constituencies elect a single candidate depending on who received the most votes who then represents the constituency. It is used in general elections to the House of Commons.
Single Transferable Vote
An electoral system using multi-member constituencies in which votes rank candidates in order of preference and elects those who achieve the droop quota, a number calculated from the number of seats and votes cast. If candidates do not meet the quota, the candidate with the fewest first preference rankings is eliminated and their second-preference votes are transferred to the other candidates, this is repeated until all the seats are filled. It is elect the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Additional Member System
An electoral system that uses two ballots, one to vote for an individual candidate and one to vote for a party. Individuals are elected to single-member constituencies using first-past-the-post while parties are elected proportionally to larger regions. It is used to elect the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly.
Supplementary Vote
An electoral system in which votes rank their first and second preferences, if a candidate receives over 50% of the first-preference votes then they are elected but if no candidate does this then the two candidates with the highest number of vote are retained and others eliminated. The second-preference votes are then transferred to the two remaining candidates and whoever has the most votes at the end of this process is elected. It is used in the London mayoral election.
Closed Party List
An electoral system the uses multi-member constituencies in which voters give their vote to the party they wish to support and then each party is given seats proportionate to the number of voters they received, it is the party’s choice in which order the candidates appear and are elected. It is used in elections to European Parliament in England, Scotland and Wales.
Constituency
A geographical area whose residents elect a representative to a legislative body, they can be single-member or multi-member.
