3. Electoral Systems

Question 1

FPTP

Answer 1

• pluarality election system : voter can onyl vote for one candidate
• a candidate can get less than 50% of a vote in a constituency and get elected
• creates safe seats : very little chance of a seat changing [e.g labour 2017 winning 86% in Liverpool]
• marginal seats : one held with a very small lead, lots of campaigning and money spent here

Question 2

FPTP : Advantages and Disadvantags

Answer 2

Advanatages

• clear and easy to understand
• hard for extremist to gain representation
• creates a strong and stable gov
• MPs have a close relationship with constituents

Disadvantages

• discriminates in favour of the 2 main parties
• votes are wasted
• no majority required / lacks legitimacy [2005 : Tony Blair elected on 35%of vote]
• discriminates against smaller parties (minorities)
• disproportional voting (numb of seats don’t = number of votes) [UKIP won 3.9 million, but only 1 seat]

Question 3

Supplementary vote

Answer 3

• London mayor was elected through this
• majoritian election system : candidates must gain more than 50% of the vote to be elected
• voters have 2 choices

Question 4

Supplementary Vote : Advanatages and Disadvantages

Answer 4

Advanatages

• ensures broad support for the winner [e.g Sadiq Khan in 2016 has the largest personal mandate of any politician in british history]
• simple and straightforward to use
• reduces tactical voting

Disadvantages

• voters still might hav eto vote tactically
• only 2 candidates make the cut so promotes voting for candidates from the main 3 parties

Question 5

Single Transferable Vote

Answer 5

used in the northern ireland assembly (proportional system)

• voters number their voters preferentially (1,2,3)

Question 6

Single Transferable Vote : Advantages and Disadvantages

Answer 6

Advantages

• fewer wasted votes
• greater choice, provides democracy and prevents a democratic deficit
• enables representation of two opposing communities (nationilists and unionists)
• no safe seats, means individuals cannot be complacent
• no need for tactical voting

Disadvantages

• couting results takes much longer and more expensive
• quite complex meaning individuals may not undertsand, lead to voter apathy
• candidates with extremists views have a voice
• could lead to ‘donkey voting’ where voters vote in the order that appears on the ballot

Question 7

Additional Member System

Answer 7

• proportional electoral system
• used in devolved regions of scotland and wales
• hybrid system : combines FPTP and the list system

Question 8

Additional Member System : Advantages and Disadvantages

Answer 8

Advantages

• combines the advantages of both FPTP and the list system
• there is a strong MP- constituent link , as in FPTP
• outcome is more proportional than FPTP, but not as proportional as other systems
• Gives voter choice
  -AMS can help benefit minority parties like all PR systems
  -

Question 9

How does FPTP work ?

Answer 9

• voter put across their preferred candidate in single member constituency, the candidate with the most votes is elected
• you will inevitably have safe seats and marginal seats

Question 10

How does AMS work ?

Answer 10

• involves voters choosing a party and then seats are allocated to parties proportionately

Question 11

How does SV work ?

Question 12

How does STV work ?

Question 13

Possible outcomes of electoral systems :

Answer 13

• majority government
• minority government
• coalition government