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ELECTORAL SYSTEMS AND VOTING BEHAVIOURS - Coggle Diagram
ELECTORAL SYSTEMS AND VOTING BEHAVIOURS
UK ELECTION SYSTEM
first order election:
most important - general election.
second order election:
all other elections.
majoritarian system:
produces a majority govt.
plurality system:
winning candidate has the most MPs and constituencies.
FPTP is both of these.
its not a
proportional system:
% of party votes + % of seats in parliament.
issues with FPTP
can cause wasted votes.
2017: in 2017, 44% of the votes cast were not for the winning party.
encourages, allows and only works with 2 party system.
2010 coalition with introduction of third party.
encourages tactical voting in safe seats like East Devon.
issue of vote splitting - something parties want to prevent: largely explains the Conservative decision to put a Brexit referendum in the 2015 manifesto.
safe constituencies have lower turnout due to more wasted votes.
and, in marginal seats votes tend to matter more making different votes in different constituencies unequal.
a candidate can win small % of vote and high % of constituencies.
FIRST PAST THE POST
elections for candidates in single member constituencies - votes for one candidate only.
the most votes win and a winning candidate becomes the MP for that constituency.
party with the most MPs the forms govt and this party usually has a majority in the House of Commons.
positives:
provides a strong and stable govt - a minority govt is unlikely and this allows votes to easily pass through the commons.
constituency links of MPs - allows specific needs of specific areas to be recognised and met.
avoids coalitions - 2010 last coalition.
problems:
the differences between safe and marginal seats - 2017 NE Fife: SNP won by 2 votes whereas the East Devon constituency has always been Conservative.
2 party system encourages tactical voting which makes it difficult for smaller parties to succeed.
lack of majority support for a winning candidate - rare for an MP to have 50% of the vote.
vote splitting tends to make the system less effective as seen in 1983 between LibDem and Labour as well as leading to 2010 coalition result.
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION SYSTEMS
the list system:
closed list system is used in EU parliament elections.
regions of the country are divided into multi-member constituencies
voters have one vote cast for a party.
seats given to candidates based on their placement on the list (decided by party).
seats are allocated proportionally based on % of vote and how far down the list a candidate is placed.
ADVANTAGES:
:check: simple and proportional.
:check: smaller parties have a chance.
:check: less tactical voting.
:check: coalitions likely.
DISADVANTAGES:
:red_cross: creation of the list gives great power to party leaders.
:red_cross: weaker link between electorate and parliament.
:red_cross: less direct representation.
:red_cross: slower than FPTP.
:red_cross: voters have no choice over candidates.
2019 EU ELECTION:
Brexit Party = 29 seats
LibDems = 16 seats
Labour and Conservative were third and fourth.
single transferable vote:
votes cast in multi-member constituencies - in order of preference.
quota determined by maths equation.
those who obtain a victory on first votes are elected.
surplus votes are redistributed.
those with the fewest votes are eliminated.
2nd choices redistributed.
process repeated until all seats are filled.
ADVANTAGES:
:check: most proportional.
:check: no wasted or tactical votes.
:check: larger choice.
:check: coalitions.
:check: fairer to smaller parties.
DISADVANTAGES:
:red_cross: coalitions common.
:red_cross: time consuming.
:red_cross: confusing.
:red_cross: weak constituency link.
used in Northern Ireland.
additional member system
hybrid system - 1/2 FPTP + 1/2 List System.
voters hold 2 votes:
one for constituency MP under FPTP.
one for party elected regionally under closed list system, with members elected proportionally.
ADVANTAGES:
:check: better for smaller parties.
:check: constituency link.
:check: more options.
:check: vote equality.
:check: far less wasted votes.
:check: different choice over person and party.
DISADVANTAGES:
:red_cross: coalitions common.
:red_cross: time consuming to get result.
:red_cross: gives the people too much power and control.
:red_cross: parties control the list.
:red_cross: not the most proportional system.
used in Scotland and Wales
SHOULD THE UK REFORM OUR ELECTION SYSTEM
1990s: LibDems + Labour discussed reform and coalition.
1997: Labour received a landslide victory under FPTP.
Late 90s+Early 10s: Devolution and new electoral systems in devolved states.
2010: ConLib Coalition
2011: AV referendum - rejected by public and destroyed Liberal Democrat chance at reform.
Conservatives:
no change discussed or proposed - majorities in 2015 and 2019.
Labour:
though of and discussed change but not implemented whilst in office - no election win since 2005.
Liberal:
biggest supporters of change - specifically STV - but no win, or chance of win, in many years.
REFERENDUMS IN THE UK
2011 reform to electoral system:
41% turnout - biggest low.
NO = 67.9%
2014 Scottish Independence:
84% turnout.
LEAVE = 45%
REMAIN = 55%
conversations of 'INDIEREF2'.
concept of a 'neverendum'.
2016 BREXIT:
72.2% turnout.
LEAVE = 52%
REMAIN = 48%
unexpected result.
misinformation.
questionable wording.
used to deal with controversial issues.
are they effective?
turnout is variable.
yes vote tends to win.
disliked by the Conservatives.
often in party manifestos to cope with division.
useful for constitutional and controversial issues.
also useful for devolved and regional issues.
INFLUENCES OF UK PSEPHOLOGY
region
age
education
financial status
party leader
background
class
occupation
economy
class:
dealignment
1945-70 was one of, if not the, most important factors.
1970s+ old industries disappeared and the classes changed.
this was the emphasised under 1997 New Labour, 2010 Compassionate Conservative and 2019 Conservatives Levelling Up.
class definitions:
A, B, C1, C2, D, E
gender:
1960s rise of feminism and the sex liberation.
growth of female employment.
1975 equal pay and sex discrimination acts
ethnicity:
uk history of immigration.
Irish 19th C
Jews 1930s/40s
POC 50s/60s
EU immigration
prevalent policy issue today
age:
larger population of 65+ than of under 18s.
1945 baby boom generation retiring.
pensions and elderly care are major issues for the elderly.
turnout of generations is higher for older gens and much lower for youth.
economy:
valance issue.
media:
concepts of mirror or dripping tap.
media has ability to change election results.
1997 'THE SUN BACKS BLAIR'.
2009 'LABOUR'S LOST IT'.
does it reflect the ideas of the people or feed them the opinion of others?
leaders:
americanisation of politics and presidentialisation of PM.
CASE STUDIES
1979
Labour: Callaghan
Conservative: Thatcher
LibDem: Steel
healthy majority won for the Cons with 339 seats and 43.9% of vote.
Conservative: 'LABOUR ISNT WORKING' (referencing unemployment) campaign hurt Labour as well as their own 'CRISIS WHAT CRISIS' campaign.
winter of discontent under Labour govt - people wanted a change.
vote of no confidence win for Thatcher showed lack of parliamentary support for Labour.
influences:
REGIONAL - slight swing to Cons in North as well as large swing in South.
AGE - Labour only won 18-24.
GENDER - portrayal of Thatcher as a loving housewife.
LEADERS - people preferred impression of Thatcher to that of Callaghan.
1997
Conservative: Major
Labour: Blair
LibDem: Ashdown
Labour won landslide of 418 seats and 43.2% of vote.
18 years of Conservative rule and people wanted change. Impact of early 90s recession under them and damaging reputation of Thatcher for some.
The Sun and The Time both provided public support - switch from Cons.
Conservatives petty 'New Labour New Danger' campaign damaged them.
influences:
REGION - reversal of class dealignment due to Thatcher.
Leaders - Blairs personality and characteristics were far more appealing than Majors.
ECONOMY - Black Wednesday in 1992 and general decline.
AGE - all but the over 65s were won by Labour
2010
Labour: Brown
Conservative: Cameron
LibDem: Clegg
ConLib Coalition
first TV debate brought in 3rd party of the LibDems and the proposition of them as a viable party for govt because of this led to the failure of FPTP.
influences:
MEDIA
ECONOMY - 2008 recession
LEADER - Cameron > Brown
FACTORS INFLUENCING TURNOUT
safe or marginal seats.
choice of 2 only.
knowledge.
apathy.
politicians reputation + idea of corruption.
affluence/education.
geography.
age --> youth.
2nd order elections are lower.
2019: 67.3%
2001: 59% - people knew Blair was going to win.
1997: 71.3%
1992: 77.7%
changes that could influence turnout:
e-votes
weekend voting
compulsory voting
early votes
postal votes
INFLUENCE OF PARTY LEADERS
2019 approval rating:
Johnson: 39%
Corbyn: 20%
Farage: 26%
Swinson: 235
rational voting:
assumes votes are made on own best interests with voters ideally full informed. therefore, the views of the winning vote will provide best option for society.
issue voting:
votes cast on one issue as more important when other policies could be detrimental.