AMS

• Advantages of AMS

  • Broadly proportional electoral outcome and is fair to all parties.
  • Gives voters 2 votes rather than one; therefore more electoral choice.
  • Combines constituency relationship with a proportional outcome.
  • Regional list helps small parties win constituency seats.
• Disadvantages of AMS

  • More complex than FPTP.
  • Can result in the election of extremist candidates.
• How AMS works

  • 2/3 of seats awarded based on FPTP.
  • 1/3 of seats awarded based on regional list; variable top-up system helps to make the number of seats proportional to votes.
  • Seats awarded on the regional list via the D'Hondt method.
• Outcomes of AMS

  • In 2016 Scottish Parliament elections; SNP won 41.7% of the vote and 48.8% of seats.
  • If the same election was done using FPTP; the SNP would receive 104 out of 129 seats with just 41.7% of the vote.