Electoral systems

• First Past the Post (FPTP)

  - An electoral system, sometimes known as a plurality system

  - candidate with the largest number of votes is elected

  - Victory is achieved by having at least one more vote than other contenders
• Criteria for Voting Systems

  - A fair result that giving votes equal value

  - A choice of candidates

  - Link between representatives and the constituency

  - Strong government that can pass laws

  - Government can be held to account by the electorate
• Advantages of FPTP


  - Quick and simple

  - Provides a strong and stable government (two party system)

  - Exclusion of extremists

  - Promotes a strong link between MPs and constituencies
• Disadvantages of FPTP


  - MPs and government don't need majority

  - Conservatives (David Cameron) house majority with 36.9% of popular vote

  - UKIP got 12.7% but 1 seat

  - Lack of proportionality

  - Limited voter choice

  - Safe seats leads to unequal votes
• Marginal Seats


  - Seats held by a small majority

  - Small swing to an opposition candidate can cause the seat to change hands

  - E.g. Watford
• Safe Seats


  - Constituencies in which the sitting MP has a secure majority

  - E.g. Newcastle North
• Additional Member System (AMS)


  - A hybrid electoral system

  - The voter makes two choices

  - First, the voter selects a representative by FPTP

  - A second vote is made for a party

  - Additional members would be elected by these votes

  - Additional members don't have a constituency
• Single Transferable Vote (STV)


  - An electoral system where preferences are ranked numerically

  - In order to win a seat, a candidate must obtain a quota (number of votes)

  - After the votes are cast, if a candidate meets the quota, their excess votes are transferred to other candidates based on second preference

  - The candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated and votes redistributed based on next preference

  - Repeated until all seats are filled
• Supplementary Vote (SV)


  - A majoritarian electoral system where voters rank first and second choice

  - If one candidate obtains more than 50% on the first vote, then they are elected

  - Otherwise, the top two candidates remain and supplementary votes are added

  - Then, the candidate with the most votes wins
• AMS is used in...

  - Scottish Parliament

  - Welsh Assembly

  - Greater London Assembly
• Advantages of AMS


  - Introduces a proportional element

  - Corrects flaws of FPTP

  - FPTP element maintains a string link between the member and the constituency

  - Electors have wider choice than under FPTP
• Disadvantages of AMS


  - Creates two different types of member, some with constituency responsibilities and some without

  - Smaller parties achieve less representation than under a fully proportional system

  - Closed list system means there isn't choice of member
• STV is used in...

  - Northern Ireland Assembly

  - European Parliament Elections

  - Northern Ireland and Scottish Council Elections
• Advantages of STV


  - Close correlation between votes and seats

  - Voter choice is high

  - Northern Ireland shows a power-sharing government between rivals
• Disadvantages of STV


  - Not fully proportional

  - Large multi-member constituencies leads to weak constituency/member link

  - Power sharing governments are still prone to conflict
• Supplementary Vote is used in...

  - Elections for the London Mayor
• Advantages of SV


  - Ensures broad support for the winner

  - Simple and straight forward to use

  - Has allowed some independent candidates to win
• Disadvantages of SV


  - Not proportional as only one winner

  - The winner does not need to get an absolute majority of the votes

  - Voters need to be able to guess top two to influence the outcome
• Circumstances of a Referendum

  - Legitimising a major government initiative

  - Getting a government out of a difficult situation

  - Result of a deal between political parties

  - Response to pressure to hold a referendum
• Establishment of a Scottish Parliament result


  Sept 1997 - 74.3% Yes
• Establishment of a Welsh Assembly result


  Sept 1997 - 50.3% Yes
• London Mayor and Assembly result

  May 1998 - 72% Yes
• Change to AV for the Westminster Electoral System result

  May 2011 - 68% No
• Scottish Independence result


  Sept 2014 - 55% No
• Remain or Leave the EU result


  June 2016 - 52% Leave
• For Referendums


  - Allows direct influence

  - Encourages people to find out more about major political issues

  - Can help to settle an issue
• Against Referendums


  - Elected politicians are supposed to make the decisions

  - On behalf of less informed voters

  - Politicians are paid to do this

  - Campaigns with more money can influence voters more
• Switch to AV system

  2011 68% no