Supplementary Vote (SV)

Question 1

what is SV?

Answer 1

Supplementary vote (SV) is a nonproportional electoral system

Question 2

where is SV used?

Answer 2

London Mayoral elections and other mayors

Police and crime commissioners in England and Wales

Question 3

how does SV work?

Answer 3

Each voter is allowed a first and second preference vote (2 choices), although the second vote is optional

The candidate was an absolute majority (more than 50%) of the first preference votes gets elected as MP automatically

but If this does not occur because no candidate has an absolute majority then all candidates, except for the top two, are eliminated

The second preference votes are then added to produce one overall winner

Question 4

advantages: SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD

Answer 4

Very easy to understand and use

voters simply have a first preference and a second one

Question 5

advantages: ABSOLUTE MAJORITY

Answer 5

Usually results in an absolute majority which ensures broader support for the winner and is therefore more representative than FPTP because the winner needs at least 50% of votes

for example, Sadiq Khan, Mayer of London, has the largest personal mandate of any elected politician in British history

In 2016, he won 44% of first preference votes and 65% of second preference votes, which meant that he had 56% of the final amount of votes

But this is not always the case, if no one receives an absolute majority then an overall winner will be produced using second preference votes

Question 6

advantages: FEWER WASTED VOTES

Answer 6

Voters get two choices meaning they are more likely to vote for who they genuinely want in the second column

far fewer wasted votes than under FPTP

Question 7

advantages: MORE CHOICE

Answer 7

Allowed some independent candidates to win

For example in 2012, 12 out of the 40 police and crime commissioners were independent

There is overall more choice, especially since voters get two chances to vote, possibly one tactical vote and the second for a candidate that they genuinely align with

Question 8

disadvantages: NON PROPORTIONAL

Answer 8

Only one individual is being elected to a single office and the votes do not equal the number of seats won

Question 9

disadvantages: THE SECOND VOTE

Answer 9

there are many problems with the second vote

voters need to identify the top two candidates in order to have any influence, this is sometimes unclear

after casting their first vote, They may simply cast their second vote for a random candidate without thinking, leading to a skewed result

Encourages voters to support the main party candidates

Many will not cast a second vote in fear of allowing another candidate to win should their first preference candidate not gain an absolute majority

Still allows for tactical voting

Question 10

tip for evaluating electoral systems

Answer 10

Can use the advantages of non-proportional systems as disadvantages of proportional ones

for example first past the post produces strong and stable government STV is less likely to and more likely to result in a collection

Or STV gives small parties undue influence first past the post doesn’t

Question 11

why SV for mayors?

Answer 11

Both SV and AV was considered but SV was chosen as it was simpler to use

It also meant candidates with little positive support would be less likely to win as only the top two candidates (after the first preference votes have been counted) would make it to the final round

The winner would have a clear mandate