3 Electoral Systems Flashcards
LLLL (24 cards)
intro 2 points
- def
- context
FPTP is the current electoral system used for UK Parl elections and local council elections in Eng and Wales. It is a simple plurality system.
- The 2024 general election has faced significant scrutiny, as the Gallagher Index rated it the least proportional election in the UK’s history.
P1 direct
FPTP is very unrepresentative, as it is a simple plurality system that results in elected MPs often lacking majority support in their constituency.
- This weakens the mandate of each MP, leading to many voters feeling unrepresented and MPs lacking legitimacy.
P1 direct evidence
In the 2024 election, Labour candidate Terry Jermy won in South West Norfolk with only 26.7% of the vote—representing just 15.7% of the total constituency population when non-voters are included.
P1a point
FPTP benefits major parties with strong regional support while disproportionately under-representing minor parties with widely dispersed voters.
P1a evidence (2)
- Proportional systems like AMS and STV boost smaller parties; in 2024, Reform’s 14.3% vote would yield 91 seats under AMS, 71 under STV, but only 5 under FPTP - found by Make Votes Matter.
- In both 2019 and 2024, the Liberal Democrats won around 12% of the vote but secured only a small fraction of the seats—11 and 72 respectively—highlighting the lack of correlation between vote share and seat allocation under FPTP.
CP1 direct
On the other hand, FPTP can be seen as representative as it has a strong MP-Constituency Link.
CP1 direct evidence (3)
- A HoC study found that MPs receive 300-500 emails per week and spend about 40% of their time on constituency matters, including surgeries and casework.
- On December 5, 2023, 22 Conservative MPs, including Caroline Nokes, rebelled against their party whip to support a Labour amendment speeding up compensation for victims of the infected blood scandal, driven by strong local movements and the needs of their constituencies, demonstrating the strong MP-constituency link under FPTP.
- This example shows FPTP’s strong MP-constituency link, as rebels were influenced by local movements and scandal victims in their constituencies.
P1 overall judgement (2)
- While FPTP strengthens the MP-constituency link and improves local representation, it is overall an unrepresentative system that disproportionately disadvantages minority parties.
- As representation/proportionality is arguably the key criteria according which to judge electoral systems, this leads to a persuasive argument that FPTP should be scrapped.
P2 direct
A key benefit of FPTPis that it often results in strong single-party govs with a clear mandate, enabling them to pass laws and implement their agenda effectively.
P2 evidence (2)
- In the 1980s, FPTP enabled Thatcher to implement significant economic changes, while in 1997, it gave Blair’s government the mandate for extensive constitutional reforms.
- In 2024, Starmer’s Labour Party secured a 174-seat majority with only 33.7% of the vote, yet there was little public outrage or challenge to his mandate.
P2a
Proportional systems often lead to weaker coalition governments with compromised policies and difficulty enacting major changes.
P2a evidence
In April 2024, Scotland’s government collapsed as the SNP-Green coalition split over climate and gender issues, highlighting AMS’s tendency for unstable coalition governments. Leading to the resignation of Hamza Yousaf
CP2 direct
Under FPTP, voter choice is limited to a single vote for one party, fully express their preferences, whereas the AMS allows two votes—one for a party and one for a constituency member—enabling voters to express a ‘split-ticket’ preference.
CP2a point
This results in votes for losing parties being effectively ‘wasted’ and many voters resorting to ‘tactical voting,’ where they support a less preferred party to prevent their least favoured party from winning.
CP2a evidence
In 2024, MakeVotesMatter reported that 1 in 5 voters intended to vote tactically, and 58% ended up with an MP they didn’t vote for, the highest since WWII, whereas in more proportional systems like STV, where voters rank preferences, tactical voting is not an issue.
CP2b point
Votes under FPTP are of unequal value, as those in smaller constituencies and marginal seats count more, while voters in safe seats often face lower turnout due to limited campaign attention and little hope of their preferred candidate winning.
CP2 point
Although FPTP limits voter choice, it is simple for voters to use, as they only select one candidate or party, and results are typically known by the morning after polling day, allowing for a quick and orderly transfer of power.
CP2 evidence
In 2024, Sunderland South’s result was announced by 23:15, with the outcome clear by morning, and Starmer became Prime Minister by 12:40pm the next day.
CP2a point
simple and familiar
CP2a evidence
the simplicity and familiarity of FPTP likely contributed to its public support, as evidenced by the 2011 AV referendum, where 68% voted against reform on a 42% turnout,
CP2b point
More complicated electoral systems can confuse voters and lead to ‘donkey voting’.
CP2b evidence
in the 2019 local elections in Northern Ireland, candidates listed first alphabetically in District Electoral Areas were elected 85% of the time, while those listed second were elected only 54% of the time.
CP2 overall judgement
A more proportional electoral system than FPTP would provide greater voter choice, as FPTP’s simple plurality system limits options.
- say smth abt it being good bad.
conclusion (3)
- Overall, FPTP should be replaced with a more proportional system, as while it is simple for voters, it limits choice and leads to many wasted votes.
- FPTP should be scrapped because it is unrepresentative, as it under-represents minor parties and over-represents the winning party, granting it undue legitimacy to implement major changes.
- A more proportional system like AMS strikes a better balance by offering significant voter choice, being relatively simple, and still ensuring stable, effective governments.
