Electoral Systems

• Role of elections


  • The will of the majority is made clear
  • Helps form a government
  • Means of citizen participation
  • Provides representation
  • Holds the government to account
• Mandate


  The authority extended to the winning party which grants them permission to produce legislation in accordance to their manifesto, with the support of the electorate
• Arguments that elections promote democracy

  • They educate the public as parties explain many issues
  • It encourages participation
  • Allows peaceful change of power
  • Expression of the popular will
  • Offers choice of many parties
• Arguments that elections do not promote democracy

  • May fail to accurately educate due to biased facts/ propaganda
  • It takes decision making away from the public as there is no guarantee politicians will abide by their mandate
  • The choices presented could be an illusion as there is few differences between parties
• In the 2010 election run up, Lib Dem pledged not to raise the tuition fees. After the coalition 27 Lib Dem MPs vote for the rise
• Plurality system


  Can only vote for 1 candidate, the one with the most votes wins
• Safe seats


  Constituencies where it is almost certain a party will win. Parties may pay less attention to campaigning here, less information given. Votes may be wasted as they make no real difference. MPs will be held less accountable as there is no fear of them losing their seat.
• 2017- Labour won Walton seat with 86% of vote
• 2019- 316/350 safe seats
• 2019- Electoral Reform Society estimated 71% voters felt their vote was wasted
• Marginal seats


  Outcome for the election is not certain in these constituencies. Parties focus their attention campaigning here so more information is given. The votes are more important as they are more likely to impact the result. It could result in 'tactical voting'
• 2017- SNP won the North East Fife seat by 2 votes
• 2019- 141 marginal seats
• FPTP: first past the post


  • Used in Westminster election and local governments
  • 650 single member constituencies
  • Candidates pay a deposit to stand and it is returned if they win 5% of the vote
  • Voters choose 1 candidate to vote for: by placing X next to their name
  • The winner needs the most votes: could be below 50%
  • To win the general election, aim to have majority constituency votes
• Advantages of FPTP


  • Simple to understand and operate
  • Keeps out small extremist parties
  • Creates stability/ strong governments
  • MPs have close relationships with constituents
  • It is quick to produce a result
• Disadvantages of FPTP


  • Favours the 2 largest parties (unrepresentative)
  • Discriminates against smaller parties (with legit causes)
  • Disadvantages parties with widely spread support
  • Votes are wasted on losing candidates
  • Seats are disproportional
• 2015- Conservatives were elected in with only 37% of votes
• 2019- Conservatives won 43% vote and 56% of seats
• 2019- UKIP won 12% vote but only 1 seat
• Majoritarian electoral system


  Candidates must gain majority, results in strong single party governments
• SV: supplementary vote


  • Used in Scottish by elections, was used in police commissioner and London mayor elections but changed in 2022
  • Voters have 2 votes, place 1 and 2
  • If candidates win >50% of votes in first preference they are automatically elected
  • If no candidate wins >50%, all but the top 2 candidates are eliminated and their second preference votes are counted
• Sadiq Khan gained 44% votes in the first round but 160k people put him as 2nd preference- enough to get him elected
• Advantages of SV


  • Relatively simple to understand
  • Reduces tactical voting
  • Encourages campaigning as the 2nd vote is important
  • All MPs would have support of the majority
• Disadvantages of SV


  • Favours the largest parties as smaller parties will not gain enough 1st preference votes
  • Third party is more excluded from winning seats than FPTP
• Proportional electoral system


  % of seats should be proportional to % of votes, no wasted votes, often leads to coalitions
• List system


  • Parties are allocated seats based on % of vote. It lists candidates in order of importance.
  • Closed- electors have no say over the list order
  • Open- have say over the order
• AMS: additional member system


  • Used in Scotland, Wales and London Assembly
  • Voters have 2 votes: their local constituency and party list
  • Produces 1 local and 1 regional representative
• SNP do better in constituency seats and Conservatives do better in regional seats in Scotland
• Labour does better in constituency seats and Conservatives/ Plaid Cymru do better in regional seats in Wales
• Advantages of AMS


  • Produces a proportional outcome
  • 2 votes gives wider choice
  • A coalition government more likely
• Disadvantages of AMS


  • More complex as there is 2 votes
  • Could have disputes between both representatives
  • Smaller parties are less well represented
• STV: single transferrable vote

  • Used in Northern Ireland assembly and Scottish local elections
  • Typically 6 seats in each constituency
  • Voters order candidates in order of preference (from any party)
  • An electoral quota is calculated using The D'Hondt Method: number of votes/ number of elected members + 1
  • First preference votes are counted and anyone above the quota is automatically elected
  • Least popular candidate is eliminated and their votes are redistributed
  • Repeated until quota is reach for sufficient candidates
• Advantages of STV


  • Fewer votes are wasted as they are redistributed
  • Greater choice of candidates
  • Offers more than one representative
  • Broadly proportional outcome
  • No safe seats so campaigning is required everywhere
  • No need for tactical voting
  • Coalition government more likely
• Disadvantages of STV


  • More complex and takes longer to count
  • 'Donkey voting': in order of list
  • Lines of accountability for representatives is less clear
• Advantages of referendums (direct democracy)

  • More engages/ educated electorate
  • Settles long standing disputes (2011 AV referendum)
  • Increases political participation (84% Scottish Independence Referendum turnout)
• Disadvantages of referendums (direct democracy)

  • Undermines authority of parliament (Brexit)
  • Can be repeated until desired outcome (desire for 2nd Scottish Independence referendum)
  • Divisive in society
  • Misleading campaigns
  • Gives power to those not politically educated enough, may misunderstand matter
• Thatcher disliked referendums as she thought issues were too complicated for the public and should be made by experts
• Consequences of Brexit 2016


  • Undermined authority of parliament- involved judges in Article 50 court case
  • Risked breaking up UK- Scotland mostly voted 'remain'
  • 52/48 huge divide
  • Irish border issue- only hard border with EU
  • Cameron and May resigned
• AMS encouraged minor party support into seats. 2016- UKIP got no constituency seats in Scottish Parliament. Welsh and London Assembly but 7 top up seats in Wales and 2 in London
• AMS ensures number of seats reflects number of votes