voting Flashcards
FPTP
-electors cast their vote for 1 candidate in single member constituencies
-the winner need only to achieve a plurality of votes
-for a party to win the overall election they need to get at least 326/650 MPs
advantages of FPTP
-creates stability + strong governments
-MPs have a close relationship with constituents
-the candidate who most people prefer wins the seat
-simple and easy to operate
-quick to produce a result
-keeps out small, extremist parties
disadvantages of FPTP
-discriminates in favour of 2 main parties
-votes are wasted on loosing candidate
-other systems offer constituents good local members to represent them
-most MPs don’t achieve 50%
-electronic voting means it isn’t much quicker
-discriminates against moderate small parties
supplementary vote
-voters have 2 preferred votes
-if a candidate wins <50% of the first choice votes, they are elected
-if they don’t, all but the top 2 candidates are eliminated
-the candidate with the most 1st + 2nd choice votes are elected
what are the advantages of the supplementary vote
-encourages moderate campaigning
-simple system to understand + use
-could most easily replace FPTP
-all MPs would have majority support
-reduces tactical voting
-ensures good PM-constituency links
what are the disadvantages of the supplementary vote
-promotes voting for candidates from the main 3 parties
-2nd choice votes could be wasted, if voters don’t guess who will make the final round
-voters may need to vote tactically
-not all MPs secure the support of the majority because some second choices are eliminated
additional member system
-voters have 2 separate votes
-1st is to choose a member for their local constituency
-2nd is used to vote for a political party
-the party list element is used to top up the constituency vote, making the result more proportional
what is a closed list
electors have no say in order of candidates
what is an open list
voters have some say over the order
where is the supplementary vote used
london mayor elections
where is AMS used
scotland
what are the advantages of AMS
-it is proportional
-each voter has a directly accountable single constituency representative
-it gives voters a wider choice
-a coalition government is more likely
what’s are the disadvantages of AMS
-list members are chosen by the party- gives more power
-having 2 types of representatives may create animosity between them
-it can be complicated
-smaller parties are less well represented than under a fully proportional system
what are advantages of using referenda
-electorate can decide on big constitutional issues
-can settle long standing disputes
-more educated electorate
-strengthens democracy- public speaks for themselves
-promotes participation
what are the disadvantages of using referenda
-undermines the authority of parliament
-may impose a decision on a reluctant government
-referenda can be asked more than once
-can be very decisive in society
-campaigns can be misleading
-place decisions on people who lack specialised knowledge
-simplify+distort issues
-regular use may result in voter disillusion
brexit
-issue of huge significance
-undermined the authority of parliament
-risks the break up of the UK
-52%-48% result
-created an issue over the Irish border
-resignation of David Cameron
what is the impact of electoral systems on third parties
proportional + hybrid/mixed electoral systems are fairer for 3rd parties eg. AMS
what is the impact of electoral systems on how seats reflect votes
-AMS ensure that the number of seats won more closely reflects votes
what is the impact of different electoral systems on coalitions
the use of more proportional electoral systems has made majority governments less likely as they produce multi party systems
what are the advantages of electoral reform
-majoritarian systems give stronger individual mandates
-electoral reform encourages greater descriptive representation
what are the disadvantages of electoral reform
-it doesn’t necessary increase turnout
-it can see an increase in spoilt ballots (eg. people get confused)
class trends in voting behaviour
-certain classes have a connection with specific parties, the 1950s were a high point for partisan alignment
-Class alignment= individuals identifying with a certain class
-Partisan alignment= the attachments that exists between individuals and parties
regional trends in voting behaviour
Regional voting is closely associated with class
age trends in voting behaviour
The older you are the more likely you are to vote
gender trends in voting behaviour
Female voters tend to favour the Conservatives
ethnic groups trends in voting behaviour
More likely to vote labour, there is an overlap here with class
rational choice theory
-voters consider how they would be affected by having different parties in government
-Successful parties are able to adapt their policies to popular ones
issue voting
-Voters make decisions based on a range of issues
-Issue voting relies on a high level of political engagement
party leaders affect on voting behaviour
The 2010 televised debates reinforced the view that when leaders tried to avoid saying anything controversial, they began to look less human
Governing competency effect on voting behaviour
an assessment of how effective a party has been in government eg. Through control of events, policy, unity, and strong leadership
economic management effect on voting behaviour
Voters are more likely to support a party if it has managed the economy well whilst in government
Valance effect on voting behaviour
-people support the party best able to deliver on issues they care about
-Suggest voters aren’t solely concerned with policies but who will best deliver them
