How Voting Systems Work Flashcards
(29 cards)
Where is FPTP used?
In general elections and in local elections in England and Wales
What type of constituency is used in FPTP?
Single member
How many votes does each voter cast in FPTP?
One
How do voters cast their vote in FPTP?
By marking an x next to the name of their preferred candidate.
What type of voting system is FPTP?
Simple Plurality, the winner needs one more vote than any other candidate.
Where is AMS used?
In elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly
What type of constituency does AMS use?
Single and multi member
How many votes does each voter cast under AMS?
Two - one for their candidate of choice in their single member constituency and one for their party of choice in their multimember constituency
How do voters vote under AMS?
They put a x next to their preferred candidate on one ballot and a x next to their preferred party on another
How are seats allocated under AMS?
1) Votes for individual candidates are counted and the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins - FPTP
2) Seats for regional, multimember constituencies are distributed using the D’Hondt method - a system of PR which takes into account the amount of seats already won in the FPTP stage
Where is AV used?
In by-elections for hereditary peers in the House of Lords and Australia
What type of constituency is used under AV?
Single member
How many votes does each voter cast in AV?
AV uses preference voting, meaning that voters rank the candidates until they stop caring. As such, a voter may choose only to vote for their first choice or may put all the candidates in preference order.
How do voters cast their vote in AV?
They rank the candidates in preference order until they stop caring
What type of system is AV?
Majoritarian - the winner must gain 50% of the vote. As such, if no clear winner is found on first preference votes, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated and their second choice votes are redistributed. This continues until one candidate has a majority.
Where is Closed Party List used?
Elections to the European Parliament
What type of constituency is used in Closed Party List?
Multimember
How many votes does each voter cast in Closed Party List?
One
How do electors cast their vote in Closed Party List?
They put a cross by the name of their preferred party. The party then choose themselves who they want to fill any seats they win.
What type of system is Closed Party List?
Proportional
Where is STV used?
Scottish Local Elections
What type of constituency is used in STV?
Multimember
How many votes does each voter cast in STV?
STV uses preference voting so as many or as few as they want
What type of system is STV?
Proportional. To win, a candidate requires a minimum threshold of votes which is calculated using the Droop quota. When the first choice votes are counted, any candidate who has reached the quota gains their seat and their excess votes are redistributed. If nobody else meets the quota, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated and their second choice votes are redistributed. This process continues until all the available seats in the constituency have been filled.
