Voting Systems

Question 1

Single Transferable Vote

Answer 1

• achieves nearly proportional representation through ranked ballots in constituencies w/ multiple seats

• Pros:
- Fewer votes “wasted,” and most voters can point to representative they helped elect.

• Cons:

• Votes take longer to count and can be influenced
• difficult to explain and understand.

Country it’s used in:

Question 2

First Past the Post

Answer 2

• whichever candidate garners the most votes wins.

• Pros:
- easy to understand and simple to implement

• Cons:
- Winners don’t need a majority, just more votes than anyone else

Country It’s Used In: UK, US.

Question 3

Alternative Vote

Ranked Ballot

Answer 3

• allows voters to list candidates in order of preference

• Pros:
- may reduce tactical voting, as voters don’t fear wasted votes.
- Candidates in instant-runoff systems have also been known to participate less in attack campaigning, as second- and third-choice votes can be valuable.
• Cons:
- Apathetic voters prone to ranking candidates in order they appear on
ballot, giving preference to first name listed.

Country If’s Used In: Australia

Question 4

Mixed Member Proportional

Answer 4

• hybrid voting method that incorporates parts of both proportional representation and FPTP
• Pros:
- Allows smaller parties a chance to obtain representation.
- Achieves proportional representation and maintains geographic constituencies.
• Cons:
- complicated system difficult to understand.

Country It’s Used In: Germany and New Zealand

Question 5

Proportional Representation

Answer 5

• system allows more parties to win seats, system often requires parties to form governing coalitions in order to accomplish anything.
• Pros:
- It’s easy to understand and allows small parties a greater likelihood of winning seats.
• Cons:
Can create a government comprising many small parties where consensus is difficult to achieve.
• it may allow a foothold for extremist parties