Common Voting Systems Flashcards
(13 cards)
What is a plurality in voting?
The number of votes cast for a candidate who receives more than any other but not the majority.
Plurality systems can lead to a winner who does not have the majority of overall votes.
Define safe seats in the context of elections.
Constituencies in which the sitting MP has a secure majority over the nearest rival.
Safe seats are often seen as less competitive.
What are marginal seats?
Seats held by a small majority, where a small swing to an opposition candidate can cause the seat to change hands.
Marginal seats are critical in determining the outcome of elections.
Describe the First Past the Post voting system.
Candidate who receives the majority of votes wins the election.
This system is commonly used in the UK for various elections.
What is the Additional Member System?
A hybrid system that combines FPTP and party list voting systems.
Voters get two votes: one for a candidate and another for a party.
How does the Single Transferable Vote work?
A person’s vote can be transferred to a second or further competing candidate if the candidate of first choice is eliminated.
STV is used in multi-member constituencies.
What is the purpose of the Supplementary Vote?
It allows voters to indicate a first and second choice candidate.
If no candidate gets 50% of the vote, the top two candidates proceed to a second round.
In which elections is the Supplementary Vote used?
It was used for electing Mayors and Police Crime Commissioners in the UK.
SV helps to ensure that the winning candidate has broader support.
What is the process of voting in the First Past the Post system?
Voters put an X next to their preferred candidate on a ballot paper.
The candidate who receives a plurality of votes is elected.
What is a key feature of the Additional Member System?
The voter gets two votes: one for a constituency MP and another for a party.
This allows for a more proportional representation.
What is a characteristic of the Single Transferable Vote’s constituencies?
Typically 7 or 8 MPs running for one constituency.
This allows for a wider range of choices for voters.
True or False: The First Past the Post system produces stable and cohesive governments.
True
This stability often allows governments to serve a full term.
Fill in the blank: The _______ voting system uses two rounds of voting if no candidate receives over 50% of the votes.
Supplementary Vote
