Voting Systems Flashcards
What is fptp
Need majority of votes to win seat
Plurality
Positives: -easy to understand
- strong gov
- clear winner
- stood the test of time
- accountability for each mp
Negatives: - outcome is not proportional
-many votes are effectively wasted because they have to tactically vote
Votes unequal because safe seats
AMS
Additional member system
Split system
2/3 seats are fptp
Rest are country devided into regions
Voters have 2 votes top up system
Pos:
- broadly proportional outcome
- voter have 2 choices
-combines constituency representation with proportional outcome - majority gov can be achieved
Disadvantages
- two classes of rep held accountable differently
More complex
Likely to result in coalition or minority gov
Extremist parties
Used in Scotland
STV SINGLE TRANS VOTE
Northern Ireland
Six seats available in each constituency
Voters place candidates in order any candidate who gets quota win auto rest get percentages from second vote
Six candidates have to be elected
Pos:
Broadly proportional
Wide choice
Vote for candidates from different parties
Promotes more consensus in politics
Neg
Complex
Long time to calculate
Extremist
Accountability not usually clear
More likely to result in minority gov
Supplementary vote (SV)
London mayor
If candidate gets 50%+ they win outright
If not there are 2 votes will be accounted for by the second vote
Pos
Can claim overall support
Simple
Second choices are relevant
Negatives
May not enjoy first choice support from majority
Voters may not understand
Two party system makes it even harder for small parties