Electoral systems

• First past the post (FPTP) is a simple plurality system where the candidate with the most votes will be elected and does not have to win by a certain majority.
• FPTP is used in UK general elections where voters cast one vote for their preferred candidate, and the candidate with the largest number of votes in a constituency (seat) will be elected to Parliament as an MP. There are 650 constituencies in the UK. The party with the most seats can form a government.
• Advantages

  • AMS gives voters more choice because they can use one vote for an MP they support and another to support a party of their choosing.
  • Voters can vote for a ‘split ticket’ where they support an MP from one party and use their party list vote to support a different party.
• how many constituencies does the UK have? 650
• • Proportional systems, such as in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, have encouraged more negotiations between political parties.
  • If a minority government forms, as it has several times in Scotland and Wales, then the government needs the support of other parties to pass legislation and its policies.
  • AMS has led to an SNP minority government from 2007-2011.
• In the 2019 election, 71.2% of votes were wasted.