Elections and voting

functions of elections/ why do we need elections

recruitment of politicians, making governments, providing representation, influencing policies

educating voters, building legitimacy

strengthening elites

compulsory vote?

YES:participation, legitimacy, civic duty, countering social disadvantage

NO:unfree, facade democracy, worthless votes

electoral systems

majoritarian

proportional

Second Ballot system

Alternative Vote System/ supplementary vote

First pass the post/ SIngle-member Pluralitty

UK /USA/ Canada etc; single-member constituencies, single candidate chosen, winner takes it all with plurality of votes

France etc.; single member constituencies; winning-overall majority first ballot, simple majority second ballot

Australia: ranking of popularity, single.member constituencies, needed 50+%, otherwise redistribution according to preference

Party-List system

Additional Member System

Germany, Italy, New Zealand etc Combination of FPTP and Party list -> two votes

Single-Transferable-Vote System

Northern Ireland multimember constituencies, preferential voting, candidates need to reach a certain quota

Israel, Belgium, Luxembourg etc electors vote for parties, not candidates, parties fill the seats they get according to party list

voting behaviour

short-term influences

personality and perception of party leaders

campaign

economic situation

mass media

theories of voting

Sociological Model

Rational-Choice Model

Party-Identification Model

Dominant Ideology model