STV

• STV: NI, troubles, reduces sectarianism

  • Greater choice means that coalition is likely, in fact, power sharing is a feature of the NI assembly
  • Highly proportionate
• Advantages:

  • fewers votes are 'wasted' so most voters will have helped elect one representative
  • Greater choice -voters can choose between parties or between candidates in the same party
  • MMCs - good for Northern Ireland and sectarianism
  • No safe seats - candidates be complacent
  • No need for tactical voting
  • Coalition gov is likely - feature of NI - 2017 - DUP: 28% share of votes = 28 seats, Sinn Féin 27% share of vote = 27 seats
• Disadvantages:

  • Counting votes takes a long time
  • 'Donkey voting' voters vote for the candidates in the order in which they appear
  • In MMC s, ballot papers can get big and confusing, many were spoilt in scotland when it was first introduced
  • MMCs means lines of accountability are unclear