Voting Systems

Question 1

What are the four voting systems used in the UK

Answer 1

1. First past the post used in Westminster General elections (FPTP)
2. The additional member system in Wales and Scotland and for the London assembly (AMS)
3. The single transferable vote in Northern Ireland (STV)
4. Supplementary vote for London mayors (SV)

Question 2

Define what is meant by majoritarian voting system and give an example of one

Answer 2

(def) A voting system where a majority of 51% is needed to win, this may refer to 51% of the vote or 51% of the seats won and this style of voting system is likely to produce a two-party system.
(ex) the supplementary vote (SV)

Question 3

Define what is meant by a plurality voting system and give an example of one

Answer 3

(def) the voting system where a plurality of votes is needed to win this means having more votes than anyone else, the winning party does not necessarily need a majority to win and therefore it’s likely to produce a two-party system.
(ex) first past the post (FPTP)

Question 4

Define what is meant by a proportional voting system and give two examples

Answer 4

(def) a proportional system allocate seats in a way which reflects the percentage of votes gained by a party, this means that it’s likely to produce a multiparty system

(examples) the additional member system (AMS)
Single transferable vote (STV)

Question 5

Outline how FPTP works at a constituency level in 5 points

Answer 5

1. The UK is divided into 650 geographical areas called constituencies containing roughly 70,000 people.
2. Each constituency is represented by one seat held by a single MP in the commons.
3. Each party will select a candidate to run for election within the constituency.
4. The voters of a constituency cast a single ballot choosing between the candidates and placing an ex next to their desired candidate.
5. The candidate with the most votes wins that constituency seat and becomes its elected representative.

Question 6

Outline how the FPTP constituency result links to the national result in 3 points.

Answer 6

1. The winning candidate in each constituency is sent to Parliament to be an MP
2. The party with the majority of MPs at least 326 out of 650 then form a majority government.
3. If no party has a majority two or more parties may form coalition or a minority government is formed.

Question 7

What are the four effects of using FPTP

Answer 7

1. It creates a two-party system
2. There is a winner takes all affect
3. It can create strong single-party governments
4. The creation of safe seats and swing seats

Question 8

List the four advantages of using first past the post

Answer 8

1. It’s a simple system which increases turnout and reduces spoiled ballots
2. It should produce a strong government able to effectively leave the country
3. It gives a clear link between each area and the representative
4. It keeps extreme parties out of office and voters are given a clear choice between the two main parties.

Question 9

List the four disadvantages of using first past the post

Answer 9

1. The resulting two-party system gives voters a lack of real choice
2. The vote of one person can be far more valuable than that of another depending on where they live undermining democracy
3. There is no majority needed undermining legitimacy and wasting the votes of the lost candidates
4. There is a disproportionate result created meaning there is a winner takes all effect and parties are underrepresented

Question 10

Outline how the constituency vote of AMS works

Answer 10

1. Scotland is divided into 73 constituencies and Wales into 40
2. Each constituency is represented by a single representative
3. Those elected or given one seat in parliament

Question 11

Outline how the regional vote of AMS works

Answer 11

1. The whole of Scotland and Wales are divided into large multi-member constituencies

( Scotland has 8 constituences with 7 representitves and Wales has 5 with 4 representitives )

2. Each party running for an election drawers at the list of candidates and these are put up for election
3. To decide who gets the first seat they use the d’Hondt formula and this is repeated until all the regional seats are filled.

Question 12

What are the four advantages of AMS

Answer 12

1. The regional vote corrects some of the problems of FPTP and reduces the chance of a successful constituency party gaining regional seats.
2. Voters have more choice which encourages participation of both voters and minority parties
3. To form a single party government the governing party must be broadly popular to be successful in both votes
4. There is greater representation with areas being represented by local and regional MSP’s

Question 13

What are the four disadvantages of AMS

Answer 13

1. The process is more complicated and could reduce turnout
2. It’s unlikely to form a strong single party government
3. The constituency vote is identical to FPTP and therefore bares all the problems with FPTP
4. The two tiers of representatives may cause tension and the confusion for the voters and blur accountability.

Question 14

Outline how STV works in five steps

Answer 14

1. Northern Ireland is divided into 18 multimember regions containing 6n representatives
2. The voters are given a ballot paper with all the candidates running and they cast their ballots by ranking candidates 1,2,3 …
3. In order to win a candidate must achieve the “droop quota”
4. Any votes that they achieved over this number or re-distributed according to any second preferences
5. This process continues until all the seats are filled

Question 15

List the three advantages of using STV

Answer 15

1. STV is the most proportional system used in the UK because it delivers a result which has a close correlation between votes and seats
2. Voters have a great degree of choice increasing participation
3. The multimember constituencies mean voters have greater representation

Question 16

List three disadvantages of using STV

Answer 16

1. It’s a complicated process which may reduce turnout
2. It’s unlikely to form a strong single party government regardless of the Good Friday agreement
3. There is a reduced constituency link due to the multimember constituencies

Question 17

Outline how SV works in four steps

Answer 17

1. London is treated as one large constituency
2. Voters choose their first and second choice from the candidates
3. All of the first choice ballots are counted and if there is a majority they win the election
4. If no one has a majority all but the two top candidates are eliminated and the second preferences of the eliminated candidates are taken into account the person with the most votes is the winner.

Question 18

List the three advantages of using SV

Answer 18

1. Insures the winning candidate has a clear majority
2. Voters have more choice than FPTP and the freedom of a second preference
3. It’s a simple system so could increase turnout

Question 19

List the three disadvantages of using SV

Answer 19

1. The elimination of all the two candidates means that third parties are unlikely to do well so the result is not proportional.
2. Candidates only need to gain a majority of the valid vote meaning a candidate might not have the true majority
3. There are a large number of wasted votes which have little or no impact on the outcome of the election.

Question 20

Define referendums

Answer 20

A referendum is a yes or no vote offered to the public on a single issue i.e. the exiting of the EU in 2016.