The Electoral System Flashcards

Question

What has been the impact of electronic voting on Ireland ?

Answer 1

Despite an experiment with electronic balloting in 2002 to streamline voting and counting processes, concerns over security and public dissatisfaction led to a return to traditional paper and pencil voting. The failure of this experiment resulted in a financial loss for the state and delayed further attempts at modernizing the process. (Carty, 2021)

Answer 2

The electoral quota in STV elections in Ireland is relatively small, allowing candidates to have personal connections with most of their electors. However, despite this personalized campaigning, only a small percentage of candidates secure election on the first count, with many relying on transfers from other candidates to secure their seats. (Carty, 2021)

Answer 3

STV elections have significant implications for Irish political culture. The system's candidate-centered approach fosters a conservative political culture, with individual politicians focusing on constituency competition rather than national policy issues. This dynamic results in a Dáil (parliament) composed of electorally insecure politicians and limited turnover, as incumbents often retain their seats despite the electoral volatility. o Institutional changes in electoral framework have occurred, but STV system remains influential. o STV fosters and sustains Ireland's traditional 'friends and neighbours' culture and political relationships. o Some changes include constituency size limitations, non-partisan boundary revisions, financial regulations, ballot design, and reduction in voting age. (Carty, 2021)

Answer 4

STV elections provide opportunities for independents to win seats, influencing both electoral and parliamentary politics. With the increased presence of independents in the Dáil, government formation becomes more focused on numerical considerations rather than ideological or policy-based decisions. (Carty, 2021)

Answer 5

Irish voters utilize the STV system differently from voters in other systems, often focusing on candidates' personal service records rather than party labels. Despite the opportunity to rank multiple candidates, many voters only rank a few, leading to non-transferable votes and contributing to the unpredictability of final outcomes. (Carty, 2021)

Answer 6

The STV system in Ireland fosters a politics of representation over decision-making. By prioritizing local candidate-centered competitions, voters hold their TDs (members of parliament) accountable but not necessarily their governments, resulting in a unique political landscape where representation takes precedence over policymaking. (Carty, 2021)

Answer 7

o Parties, especially those aiming to form governments, have become more centralized, disciplined, and professionally managed. o Ireland's demographic landscape has undergone dramatic restructuring, with an urban, educated, and affluent electorate increasingly engaged with global economic imperatives. (Carty, 2021)

Answer 8

o Despite changes, the essence of Irish electoral politics remains largely unchanged. o Observers note similarities between mid-century elections and contemporary ones. o Seismic shifts in society, economy, and politics not fully reflected in electoral arena due to parties redirecting political demands elsewhere. (Carty, 2021)

Answer 9

During the depths of the Great Recession, electoral reform gained significant traction in Ireland, particularly evident in the 2011 general election where all political parties incorporated reform proposals into their manifestos, reflecting the heightened urgency for change during the economic downturn. (Farrell et al., 2016)

Answer 10

1. Trends in Electoral Reform: The text suggests that electoral reforms globally have leaned towards proportional systems over time, rather than moving away from them. This trend is particularly notable in postwar Europe, where there has been a shift towards systems that offer greater personalization, giving voters more influence over individual candidates. 2. The evolution of electoral reform debates in Ireland is outlined, indicating a transition from earlier discussions focused on proportional representation to more recent debates centered on personalization. This shift is attributed to the agendas set by political party leaderships, contrasting with the ambivalence among the general population. (Farrell et al., 2016)

Answer 11

Ireland's use of the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system for national elections is discussed, emphasizing its unique features such as allowing voters to rank candidates across parties and prioritizing personal over party campaigns. Despite being considered a proportional system, STV's effectiveness is questioned due to the small constituencies in Ireland. (Farrell et al., 2016)

Answer 12

The historical origins of Ireland's electoral system are traced back to the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, which led to the adoption of proportional representation. Subsequent attempts in the 1950s and 1960s to replace STV with a British-style plurality system were met with resistance and ultimately unsuccessful. The influence of British electoral practices on Ireland's adoption and retention of STV is highlighted, with the text suggesting that former British colonies like Ireland often experimented with electoral reforms that diverged from British norms. (Farrell et al., 2016)

Answer 13

Irish representative politics is characterized by legendary localism, where TDs (members of the Irish Parliament) prioritize constituency work to an extent not commonly seen in other democracies. A 2009 survey revealed that over half of TDs' time was spent on constituency work, with only a minority dedicated to their parliamentary roles. This excessive focus on local issues is associated with weak parliamentary accountability over the government, contributing to a perception of the Irish Parliament as one of the weakest among established European democracies. (Farrell et al., 2016)

Answer 14

The emphasis on constituency work is argued to have a detrimental effect on the quality of individuals elected to the Irish Parliament. This phenomenon, observed in other countries as well, suggests that the nature of the role attracts individuals more inclined towards local service than national policymaking. Critics contend that this dynamic limits the talent pool available for political leadership and governance, potentially exacerbating governance challenges. (Farrell et al., 2016)

Answer 15

The vision of Irish parliamentary politics characterized by TDs functioning as social workers, weak parliamentary oversight, and limitations on the talent pool of politicians has been cited by commentators as a contributing factor to Ireland's recent economic crisis. Political leaders and commentators, including former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald and Labour party general secretary Brendan Halligan, attribute these issues to Ireland's electoral system, particularly the STV system. (Farrell et al., 2016)

Answer 16

Despite the localism prevalent in Irish politics, parliamentary party cohesion remains remarkably high, with TDs generally adhering to party lines in parliamentary votes. This cohesion is unusual given the inherent tension between constituency interests and national party objectives. The separation of spheres—constituency-focused work and national party politics—allows TDs to reconcile conflicting roles, contributing to high levels of party discipline in the Irish Parliament. (Farrell et al., 2016)

Answer 17

Electoral systems significantly shape a country's politics, influencing its party system and the accuracy of translating voter preferences into parliamentary representation. The principle of proportional representation (PR) aims to ensure a close alignment between voting patterns and parliamentary composition, although perfect proportionality is rarely achieved in real-life elections. (Gallagher, 2023)

Answer 18

An example from the 2020 general election in Dublin South-Central illustrates the complexity of the counting process. Candidates can be elected with preferences from later counts, showcasing the importance of vote transfers in determining election outcomes. (Gallagher, 2023)

Answer 19

Vote transfers play a crucial role in determining election outcomes under PR-STV. Candidates may benefit from transfers, potentially changing their position from initial preferences to eventual election. The transferability of votes influences voter behavior and candidate strategies, impacting election dynamics and parliamentary representation. Approximately 30% of votes are transferred at least once during the process, with an additional 10% or more being examined for their next preference. In the example provided in Table 4.1, a total of 17,929 votes were transferred at least once, comprising votes transferred from eliminated candidates and those initially cast for the eliminated candidates. A further 8,659 votes remained with one candidate throughout the count but influenced the allocation of surplus votes based on second preferences. This means that second, third, and even later preferences may become relevant during the count, demonstrating the complexity and depth of the PR-STV system. (Gallagher, 2023)

Answer 20

1. Avoiding wasted votes by allowing votes to transfer to other candidates when the initial choice is eliminated or does not require the vote. 2. Maximizing voters' ability to choose candidates both within and across parties. 3. Preserving a close territorial connection between voters and their representatives. 4. Allowing for the expression of voter preferences beyond party lines, particularly in cases where issues or factors other than party affiliation are salient. (Gallagher, 2023)

Answer 21

It highlights the discrepancy between vote shares and seat shares, indicating that while PR-STV aims to deliver proportional outcomes based on voter preferences, the system's operation may not always align perfectly with this goal. Factors contributing to disproportionality include the role of lower preferences and vote transfers, as well as the small district magnitude in Irish constituencies compared to other PR systems. (Gallagher, 2023)

Answer 22

Fianna Fáil's shift towards coalition-building in 1989 marked a pivotal change, altering the perception of coalitions within the Irish party system. (Gallagher, 2023)

Answer 23

Despite perceptions, Irish experience doesn't conform to the stereotype of short-lived, unstable multi-party governments. While there have been flurries of elections, the average time between general elections has been over three years. Most coalition governments historically comprised only two parties, with only a few exceptions involving three or more parties. (Gallagher, 2023)

Answer 24

Despite the potential for TDs to cultivate personal support bases, Irish parliamentary parties exhibit high levels of cohesion. Votes against the party line in the Dáil are rare, reflecting strong commitment to party discipline among TDs. Discontent with government proposals is often voiced internally, contributing to overall party cohesion. (Gallagher, 2023)

The Electoral System Flashcards

(48 cards)