Voting Systems Flashcards
1
Q
where is PR used
A
the eu
2
Q
What is PR
A
Proportional representation
3
Q
what are the 2 ways that PR is used
A
there are two ways open list and closed list
4
Q
what is an open list PR
A
each party has a number of named candidates- voters choose one candidate to vote for, the seats are allocated on a % basis with personal votes having an influence
5
Q
what is closed list PR
A
each party has a number of candidates ranked from top to bottom, voters choose a party to vote fit and the seats are allocated on a % basis with seats going to people in each party in order
6
Q
what is AMS
A
additional member system
7
Q
where do we use AMS
A
scottish parliament
welsh assembly
greater london assembly
8
Q
how does AMS work
A
voters cast two votes, one is for a constituency MP and the other for a party list system
9
Q
what is the formula used to work out who won what AMS
A
votes cast
—————-
(seats one + 1)
10
Q
What is SV
A
supplementary vote
11
Q
where is SV used
A
london and other mayor elections, france, police and crime commissions
12
Q
What does SV do
A
it seeks to give the winner a majority and therefore a mandate
13
Q
how does SV work
A
single member constituencies
voters choose a first and second preference
votes are counted and if anyone has +50% they win if they don’t then all but winning two are eliminated
second preference votes if the eliminated candidates are reallocated
whoever wins is the winner
14
Q
what is STV
A
Single transferable vote
15
Q
where is STV used
A
northern ireland assembly and scottish councils
16
Q
what type of constituencies does it create
A
large, multi member ones
17
Q
what is the droop method STV
A
votes cast
——————
(seats to be won +1)
18
Q
what is AV
A
alternative vote
19
Q
Why would a be fair to say that a child would create first past the post?
A
→ its simple
→ its clear
→ most people each understand it.
20
Q
How many constituencies are in the UK?
A
650
21
Q
How many voters ave approximately in each constituency?
A
73,000
22
Q
What does each constituency get?
A
A place or “seat” in Parliament with an MP
23
Q
How do you vote in the UK?
A
l. Go along to your polling station
2. Give your name and address and get given a ballot paper
3. You put a cross in the box you want.
24
Q
How ave the UK’s ballot slips counted?
A
The sealed ballot boxes are taken to a counting venue
They’re opened and counted by pairs of volunteers, overseen by supervisors
25
What happens is a candidate fails to reach 5% of the votes.?
They loose their £500 deposits
26
How do you win a FPP vote
You need to get one more vote than whoever comes second
27
What is "You need to get one more vote than whoever comes second " technically called?
A simple plurality
28
What is our government formed of
The party with the majority of MP's
29
What's it called rover a party gets more MP's than all other parties put together?,
An overall majority
30
Since 1979 now many governments have been formed by an overall majority
36 years over the last 44
31
How do we end up with our PM (fpp)
The PM 1s the leader Op the party that has won, the majority party 's leader is offered the job by the monarch
32
Who was the last PM to win the job for the first time with a general election?
As of early 2024 I Davi Cameron
33
Who was the last PM to win the job by their party getting an over all majority?
As of early 2024, Tony Blair
34
When did Rishi Sunak win his job and how?
2022, Tory leadership election
35
When did Liz truss win her job and how?
2022, Tory leadership election
36
When did Boris Johnson win his job and how?
2019, Tory leadership election
37
When did Theresa may win her job and how?
2016 Tory leadership election
38
When did David Cameron win his job and how?
2010, won the job in a coalition with the lib- dems
39
When did Gordon brown win his job and how?
2007, labour leadership election
40
When did Tony Blair win his job and how?
1997, won The job with an overall majority
41
When did John major win his job and how?
1990, Tory leadership election
42
When did Margaret thatcher win her job and how?
1979, won the job with an overall majority
43
What does a candidate need to get to win a seat in parliament?
A simple plurality
44
Give an example of simple plurality resulting in a poor mandate?
Johnson (lib-dems' 92 ) won only 26%
45
What does the simple plurality mean for smaller parties?
It means they have a chance to make an impact and win seats
46
What time of constituencies do-we have here?
Single member constituencies
47
Give one positive and one to negative single member constituencies
↑ gives ore point of access, reduces confusion
↓ those who didn't vote for them get no ideological rep
48
What type of constituencies do other systems often use
Multi-member constituencies to give more representation
49
What type of system does FPP lead to?
A two-party system
50
Why is a two-party system bad?
People my have too viable options
51
Who does FPP discriminate against
Third parties
52
In 1997 what %. Of votes du lib - dems get and how many seats was this?
16.8% of votes one any 7 seats
53
In 2015 what % of votes did conservatives get and what percent of seats was this?
36.9 % of the votes
50.9 % Of the seats
54
In 2015 what % of votes did labour get and what percent of seats was this?
. 30.4% of the votes
35.6% of the seats
55
In 2015 what % of votes did SNP get and what percent of seats was this?
4.7% of the votes
8.6 % of the Seats
56
In 2015 what % of votes did lib-dems get and what percent of seats was this?
7.9% of the votes
1.2% of the seats
57
In 2015 what % of votes did UKIP get and what percent of seats was this?
12.6% of the votes
0.15% of the seats
58
In 2015 what % of votes did Greens get and what percent of seats was this?
3.8%. Of votes
0.15% of seats
59
What does FPP do to the winners?
It exaggerates their performance and creates d "land side" effect its called A winners bonus
60
In 2001 what was the effect of the winners bonus
40.7% of votes / 62. 7% of seats
A bonus of 22
61
What party does the FPP system bias e
Labour but it is counterbalanced by the amount of left / centre left parties
62
In 2019 how may seats in parliament were won by what%
67 seats were won by 5% or less
12 were won by under 1% of votes
63
In Walton, Liverpool what % were labour above second place
75% above
64
In 2019 what % of votes were wasted?
70.8% - made no difference
65
Every vote cast for a losing candidate is wasted - what % was this in 2019
45% of all votes
66
Every vote cast for a winning conciliate that wasn't necessary as they would've won anyway is wasted - what % was this in 2019
25%
67
What fraction of the country is not represented
1/3
68
How is FPP simple
- You only have to make one cross
- counting is simple and indisputable
- gives legitimacy
- means election results aren't contested
69
How does FPP give a clear outcome?
- Because it fosters a two party system
- winner takes all system nature
- means coalitions are almost unheard of
70
How does FPP give a strong government
- It is a result of the overall majority created by the system
- It means that they can act quickly when required
- It also means that they can pursue a coherent program of government
- And it means that the public get the government that they voted for
- Also, that the manifesto can be stuck to
71
How does FPP give a responsible government?
- The party will have been elected based off the policies in their manifesto
- They will have a majority that allows them to put these into practice
- The two party system that is created means there’s a viable alternative, which helps keep the government in check
72
How does FPP make effective representation?
- because each consistency elected one member of parliament, it is clear to everyone who their representative is
- The MP has to represent everyone within their constituency
- This also helps them vote, the way that their constituents want
-This cannot be found in PR systems
73
How does FPP create broad-based parties?
Because of the constituency based winner takes all system. The only party hoping to become. The government has to have a broad base of support across the entire country.
Successful parties need to appeal to large numbers of people
The lack of coalitions also means that there are no small parties that can exercise undue influence
74
How is FPP unfair
- the fact that the number of seats that it gives each party and Parliament does not accurately reflect the share of the vote that they won
- it is not a proportional system
75
If you win 40% of the vote in every seat, but two other parties win 50% in half the seats and 10% in the other, what happens
They they will both get half the seats and you will get none
76
In 1951 and February 1974, what happened?
The Party with the most votes lost the election
77
Who does the system given an unfair advantage to?
The main two parties
78
What do any shifts of opinion result in due to FPP?
They exaggerate the appeal of the parties and amplify any changes
79
Why is lack of justice for third-party is a problem
The party can have widespread support and when disproportionately small number of seats
Self perpetuating as people perceive them as not capable of victory
80
What in Scotland shows what can happen if change takes place
The success of ‘third’ parties in Scotland
81
Plurality, not
Majority
82
What fraction of MPs in 2007 didn’t win the majority of votes in their constituency
2/3?
83
What percent of the votes did 55 seats in 2005 get
They all got less than 40%
84
When was the last time that the majority of the electorate supported the government?
1935
85
Why can you not justifiably claim to be the choice of the people?
Because just under 4/5 of people didn’t vote for you or voted for someone else
86
Why is there unequal votes?
The size of constituency causes inequality
Wasted votes count for nothing
87
In 2005, what percent of all votes were wasted
52%
88
What are safe seats?
They are seats where one party holes is substantial lead over. And is almost certain to win
89
What fraction of constituencies do safe Seats. account for
Over 2/ 3 of al constituencies
90
Why is there a limited choice with FPP
Only one candidate from each party stands- you can’t differentiate between the people with ‘catch all parties’
91
Why does FOP limit choices- third parties
It riles them out as a choice as it’s just a wasted vote
92
What type of voting does FPP lead do
Tactical voting
93
Why is the decisive nature of FPP bad
It means that the two main parties are always looking to get one over on the other which leads to unnecessary advadarial politics
94
What is AV
Alternate vote system
95
Why did the lib-dems want to witch to a PR system when they had the chance of a referendum in 2010
Because they get many votes but little seats
96
What was the campaign against AV like
It was strong and backed by the whole Tory party
97
Which parties were in favour of changing the FPP system
Lib Dem’s, greens, snp, plaid, ukip and sinn fien
98
How does av work
it seeks a majoritarian system
IRS similar to sv but not all losing parties are eliminated at once
99
What are the steps in the av system
1- voters cast a first and second choice
2- 1st choice votes are counted
3- of a candidate gets over % they’re e;excited
4- of no one has 50% the last placed candidate is eliminated
5- their second ckoce votes are redistributed
6- this is repeated until one party gets over 50%
100
Give two negatives to av
- favours the main two parties
- artificial mandate
101
What are the strengths of AV
-reduces wasted votes
- 50% plus mandate
- constituency and rep bond
102
Where is FPP used
Uk and Us general election
103
Where is SV used
France and the London mayoral elections
104
What does PR do
Seeks to make sure the result us mathematicaly fair
105
Where is P.R used
Used to be used in the uk for EU parliament elections
106
What is P.R
Proportional representation
107
What ere the two forms of P.R
Open lost and closed list
108
How does P.R work % wise
Parties get roughly, the same, same percent of seats as the percent they won
109
How does open list P.R work
- each party has a number of named candidates
- Voters choose one candidate to vote for
- the seats are allocated on a percent basis with the personal votes, having an influence on which people from which party gets the seats
110
How does closed list PR work?
- Each party has a number of candidates ranked from top to bottom
- Voters, choose a party to vote for
- The seats are allocated on a percent basis with the seats given out to the people on each parties list in order
111
What is AMS
Additional member system
112
Where is AMS used?
Scottish Parliament
Welsh assembly
Greater London assembly
113
What type of system is AMS?
It’s a hybrid system, it mixes both majoritarian and proportional systems
114
What does AMS seek to do?
It seeks to mix the good parts of FPP with the fairness of PR
115
What votes do voters cost for AMS?
They caused two votes
One for a constituency MP and the other for a party list system
116
In the Scottish Parliament, how many seats are voted with FPP and how many voted with a list system?
73. Of the 129, MPs are elected by FPP.
56 are elected by the list system
117
How many seats in Wales are voted by FPP and how many are voted by the list system?
40 FPP
20 list system
118
How many seats does the Greater London assembly have voted by FPP, and how many by the list system?
It has 14 elected by FPP
And 11 with the list system
119
How many regions is Scotland divided into?
Eight
120
What happens in Scotland eight regions?
Each region has seven top up MPs who get their seats by the list system and help balance any equalities thrown up by the FPP system
121
What is SV?
Supplementary vote
122
Where is SV used?
It’s used in the London and other mayoral elections
It’s used in France
It’s used in the police and crime commissions (pcc)
123
What type of system is SV?
It’s majoritarian system that seeks to give the winner a majority and therefore a mandate
124
What happens in constituencies with SV?
Single member constituencies, but there are multiple votes per person
125
What are the six steps in an SV system?
1, single member, constituencies
2, voters, choose a first and second preference
3, votes accounted, and if any candidate has 50% they are the winner
4, if no, candidate has 50% then all, but the leading two are eliminated
5, the second preference votes for the losing parties are reallocated
6, whoever is now leading is the winner
126
How many people contested in the first round of the 2016 mayoral London elections
12
127
What was the result of the 2016 London mayoral election?
Labour got 56.8%
Conservatives got 43.2%
128
Where is STV used?
Northern Ireland assembly
Republic of Ireland
Scottish Council
129
What is STV
Single transferable vote
130
What is STV designed to do?
It is designed to be representative and give voters a ranked choice of preferences
131
What type of constituencies does STV do?
Large multi member constituencies
132
What are the first three steps in single transferable votes?
1 votes ranked their choice in order
2 a quota is set using the droop method
3. First preferences are counted at anyone who gets over the quota is elected.
133
What is the droop method?
It’s total votes cast
—————————
(seats to be one +1)
134
What are the second three steps in STV?
4 the excess votes are redistributed by second preference
5 if these carry anyone over the quota, they are to be elected
6 if no one is over then, whoever is coming last gets eliminated
135
What are the final two steps in STV
7 the second preference vote are redistributed as well
8 this continues until the required amount of people get a seat
136
Why are voting systems important?
They go to the way people vote not just how the votes are counted
They alter expectations and roles of smaller parties
They alter the political culture
