Electoral Systems

Front 1

Outline the workings of Additional Member System?

Back 1

1. Voters get 2 votes, one for a candidate and one for a party.

2. Each constituency returns a single MP.

3. The voters for regional seats are gained using the Closed Party List system.

4. Using the differential top up method, the results of the regional party seats part top up the seats of those who were disadvantaged in the FPTP part.

5. If a party does well in the constituency vote, they will do badly in the regional vote.

Front 2

Outline the workings of First Past the Post

Back 2

1. 650 constituencies.

2. Voters put an 'X' next to the candidate they want represent them as MP

3. Candidate (who usually represents a party) with the most votes win. (even if it isnt above 50%)

4. Party with the most MPs normally forms next government

5. Used for general elections and local elections in the UK.

Front 3

Example of really tight wins (tyranny of the majority)

Back 3

1. Glenda Jackson MP for Hampstead and Highgate in 2010 won by 42 majority - really tight by 0.1% - tyranny of the majority.

2. Alasdair McDonnell won by 24% of all votes in Belfast South in 2015 election.

Front 4

Examples of AMS regional top ups.

Back 4

1. UKIP got 7 regional seats in Wales due to differential top up method (2016)

2. Tories who are usually unpopular in Scotland got 31 seats from a top up of 24 with only 7 constituency seats won. (2016)

3. SNP missed out on getting a majority due to the fact the differential top up only awarded them 4 more seats.

Front 5

How did AMS fail to do its job in 2015 election.

Back 5

1. AMS is made to produce proportional representation and produce coalition governments.

2. In 2015, it failed to produce a coalition when the SNP gained a majority of 56/59.

3. But in 2016 they were 3 seats short of a majority - it did its job by not producing a single winner (but SNP will govern as a minority.

Front 6

Strengths of AMS?

Back 6

1. More proportionate outcome

2. Retains the single member constituencies and thus strong MP-constituent link

3. All votes count for at least regional or constituency votes.

4. Argument that this system which makes vote count for more could increase voter turnout - but in 2011 Wales on 42% turnout with Swansea East only having 31% turnout.

Front 7

What does AMS produce?

Back 7

1. Hybrid system which produces coalition government (with exception of 2015)

2. Produces proportional representation.

3. Produces multi-party system - increased popularity of nationalist parties (SNP, Plaid Cymru)

Front 8

What are the weaknesses of AMS?

Back 8

1. Usually produces coalitions or minority governments - no clear winner and coalitions are not accountable to a mandate.

2. Many MPs given seats due to top up system - not accountable to any constituents only their party.

3. Could create confusion over what voters should use their two votes for (but has been a success in devolved assemblies)

Front 9

What are some examples of FPTP results?

Back 9

1. Conservatives win 331 seats in 2015 General Election with only 36.9% of votes.

2. Labour won 27 constituency seats in 2016 local elections.

Front 10

What are the weaknesses of FPTP

Back 10

1. Can lead to tactical voting - Dr. Stephen Fischer said approx. 9% voters vote tactically

2. Wasted votes due to Winner's Bonus - 15 million votes wasted in 2015 General Election.

3. Really disproportionate - SNP got 1.5 million votes but 56 seats whereas Greens and UKIP combined got 5million votes and only 2 seats

Front 11

What are the workings of the Supplementary Vote?

Back 11

1. There are 2 columns on ballot paper, for 1st and 2nd choice, with an 'X' marked next to their prefered candidates.

2. Voters first preferences are counted and if they have 50% or more they win.

3. If not, all but the top two candidates are eliminated, and second preference votes are added.

4. Unlike AV, candidates don't need 50% or more, only more than their opposition.

Front 12

Examples for Supplementary Votes

Back 12

1. In the 2016 London Mayoral Elections, Sadiq Khan for Labour won by 56.8% after second preference votes were counted.

2. Khan had 65.5% of second preference votes, and 44.2% of first preference votes.

3. Used for London Mayoral Elections and introduced for Police Commissioners in England and Wales in 2012.

Front 13

Strengths of Supplementary Votes

Back 13

1. Encourages tactical campaigning - Khan's campaign was aimed at Tories as well as Labour, meaning he was many people's second choice.

2. Simple to understand.

3. Less wasted votes with two preferences (though many are still wasted)

Front 14

Weaknesses of Supplementary Votes

Back 14

1. Candidates from the 3 main parties usually only have a good chance of success.

2. Does not ensure that the winning candidate has the support of at least 50% of the electorate.

3. Does not eliminate tactical voting.

Front 15

Outline the workings of the Single Transferable Vote

Back 15

1. Multi-member constituenices, parties put forward several candidates

2. In order to be elected, candidates need to reach a quota (which is calculated using the Droop formula) and seats are filled depending on how many seats there are (which varies based on constituencies between 5 and 8)

3. Candidates who achieve quota on 1st preference votes are elected, with their second preference votes redistributed to other candidates.

4. This continues until enough candidates reach the quota. If people don't achieve the quota and there are still spaces, the losing candidates second preference

Front 16

Strengths of the Single Transferable Vote

Back 16

1. Only parties with 50% of the vote can form a government.

2. Delivers proportional outcomes and ensures votes are all counted for.

3. Voters have a wide choice of candidates, including ones from the same party.

4. Produces coalitions - which can be seen as a strength as force consensus in a deeply divided country (as in Northern Ireland after the Good Friday Agreement) - but helps smaller parties

5. Voters have around 6 MPs they can go to.

Front 17

Weaknesses of Single Transferable Vote

Back 17

1. Leads to coalition governments in which the governemnt is not accountable to a mandate.

2. Can be confusing on ballot paper.

3. Breaks strong MP-constituent relationship.

4. Not as proportionate as AMS.

Front 18

How do elections promote democracy?

Back 18

1. Chance for political democratic participation

2. Gives citizens choice in who holds office.

3. Provides legitimacy of whoever holds office.

4. Holds MPs and governments to account.

5. Popular sovereignty for the day - give power to people and let them give consent to a government.

6. Elections force parties to put forward their manifestos - educating the public and promoting pluralism with different parties looking for success.

Front 19

Advantages of systems which produce proportional representation.

Back 19

1. Could increase turnout (though in Wales with AMS this was proven otherwise with a turnout of 42% in 2015)

2. Increase legitimacy of the government as more accurately represents the voters will.

3. Fairer representation of smaller parties (though could be argued that gives radical parties too much power - BNP held two MEP seats in 2009)

4. More likely to cause a coalition which is vital for consensus in deeply divided areas (northern Ireland) (but coalitions can be unstable and fails to produce a mandate for the people)

Front 20

Advantages of FPTP.

Back 20

1. Simple to understand.

2. Produces clear winner (minus 2010) meaning strong and stable government.

3. Clear mandate from the people, gov. can usually reply on parliamentary majority.

4. Strong MP-Constituency Link

5. Prevents radical groups getting too many seats.

Front 21

Outline the workings of the Regional Party List system.

Back 21

1. The country is divided into regions (e.g. UK has 69 regions which go to European Parliament)

2. In each region parties create a list of candidates in order of their preference (in open party list voters place candidates in order not parties)

3. Voters choose one of the party lists rather than for an individual candidate.

4. Seats are awarded in direct proportion to votes cast. If a party win 30% of votes, it is awarded top 30% of candidates on its list for that region.

5. The winning candidates represent a region rather than a constituency.

Front 22

Strengths of Regional Party List

Back 22

1. Very proportional.

2. Each vote has an equal amount of value.

3. Helps smaller parties (though could be disadvantage as helps radical parties (BNP got 2 MEP seats in 2009)

4. Really simple.

Front 23

Weaknesses of Regional Party List

Back 23

1. Very little voter choice with party leaders choosing list and preferences.

2. Weak link between representative and area.

3. Discounts independant candidates.

4. Produce multi-party governments which can be unstable and have no mandate.