Year 1 - STV

Question 1

Where is Single Transferable Vote used?

Answer 1

Northern Ireland Assembly and Scottish Local Councli

Question 2

What type of electoral system is STV?

Answer 2

Highly proportional

Question 3

STV Explained

Answer 3

• Multi-member constituencies + voters number their choices preferentially
• In order to be elected, a can. needs to get more votes than the quota, derived by the droop formula
• Surplus votes are proportionally distributed to 2nd preferences
• If the quota is not reached, the least pop. can. is eliminated and the 2nd preference is distributed
• process is continued until seats are filled

Question 4

STV in NI

Answer 4

• provinene is divided into 18 cons.
• Each cons. elects 5 members - 90 in total
• maximum of 5 preference votes
• quota is then calculated in each of the 18 regions

Question 5

Droop formula

Answer 5

number of votes cast divided by the number of seats + 1

Question 6

STV Advantages

Answer 6

• Fewer votes are are ‘wasted’
• No need for tactical voting
• Coalition gov.

Question 7

STV OUTCOME

Answer 7

• voters can elect all MPs based on their individual abilities
• more natural constituencies , covering a whole town or a county
• local mp-con link, and gives voters a choice of representatives to talk to.

Question 8

STV Disadvantages

Answer 8

• takes longer to count the votes
• mmc means lines of accountability for reps are less clear
• ballots can be confusing