Voting Systems

Question 1

What is fptp

Answer 1

Need majority of votes to win seat

Plurality

Positives: -easy to understand
- strong gov
- clear winner
- stood the test of time
- accountability for each mp

Negatives: - outcome is not proportional
-many votes are effectively wasted because they have to tactically vote

Votes unequal because safe seats

Question 2

AMS

Answer 2

Additional member system
Split system
2/3 seats are fptp

Rest are country devided into regions

Voters have 2 votes top up system

Pos:

• broadly proportional outcome
• voter have 2 choices
  -combines constituency representation with proportional outcome
• majority gov can be achieved

Disadvantages
- two classes of rep held accountable differently
More complex
Likely to result in coalition or minority gov

Extremist parties

Used in Scotland

Question 3

STV SINGLE TRANS VOTE

Answer 3

Northern Ireland

Six seats available in each constituency

Voters place candidates in order any candidate who gets quota win auto rest get percentages from second vote

Six candidates have to be elected

Pos:
Broadly proportional
Wide choice
Vote for candidates from different parties
Promotes more consensus in politics

Neg
Complex
Long time to calculate
Extremist
Accountability not usually clear

More likely to result in minority gov

Question 4

Supplementary vote (SV)

Answer 4

London mayor

If candidate gets 50%+ they win outright

If not there are 2 votes will be accounted for by the second vote

Pos
Can claim overall support
Simple
Second choices are relevant

Negatives
May not enjoy first choice support from majority

Voters may not understand

Two party system makes it even harder for small parties