Electoral Systems

• electoral system - system where votes by electorate are turned into seats for elected representatives
• majoritarian systems - require winning candidates to gain majority of 50% or more of the valid votes cast
• plurality - require winning candidates to gain more votes than candidate (FPTP)
• proportional system - allocate number of seats roughly in proportion to percentage of votes gained
• non-proportional systems: number of seats don't reflect number of votes

  • larger parties with high proportion of seats than votes gained - so smaller parties can lose out

  e.g. 2015 Conservatives won 36.8% of popular vote, giving them 50.8% of seats
• proportional systems: designed to try give close relationship between votes in election + seats it gives to party

  • e.g. In last Girish general election, Fine Gael won 25.5% of first preference votes + have 31.5% of seats
• Types of Electoral Systems: Non-proportional

  • FPTP
  • Supplementary Vote
• Types of Electoral Systems: Proportional

  • Additional Member System (AMS
  • Single Transferable Vote
  • Regional Party List
• Name of elected representatives in Wales = Member of the Senedd
• Name of elected representatives in Northern Ireland = Member of the Legislative Assembly
• Number of elected representatives in Scotland = 129
• Number of elected representatives in Wales = 60
• Number of elected representatives in Northern Ireland = 90
• PROS of having many elections

  • ensures elected representatives are responsive to their constituents
  • scrutinise + hold representatives to account
  • introduces diverse range of representatives
• CONS of having many elections

  • many elections may confuse constituents
  • some elections have a low turnout, therefore lack legitimacy (e.g. Police and Crime commissioners)
  • public have no knowledge of what certain assemblies do
• PROS of FPTP system

  • ensures there is a strong stable government to get things done - give mandate for manifesto
  • keeps put extremist views from contributing to policies
  • single-member constituency means local area = representative with vested interest in area
• CONS of FPTP system

  • simplicity of system results in wasted votes, because only candidate with plurality of the votes takes seat
  • voter apathy due to FPTP creating 2-party system - ignores minor parties + people voting for candidate of preferred party than who will best represent their constituency
  • encourage tactical voting, voters cast ballot for "lesser of two evils" of 2 main parties - than preferred minor party
  • creats safe seats, value of individual votes reduced, going against principle of universal suffrage + equal votes