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Politics 3 : Electoral Systems - Coggle Diagram
Politics 3 : Electoral Systems
First Past The Post (FPTP) system
For
Easy to understand as it produces clear winner who can govern with a majority. Allows strong decisive gov. (2019 conservatives won by 56.2% means strong gov)
Constituency system allows for bond between constituents and MPs. (650 constituencies have representative)
Prevents extremism (Britain First and some may argue Reform)
Against
Does not always produce strong decisive gov (eg 2010 coalition and 2017 agreement)
Produces winner who does not have the popular vote (2019 Conservatives won 43.6% of vote but got 56.2% of seats in Parliament)
Constituency system rewards parties with concentrated support. Leads to safe seats and idea of wasted votes. ( 316 of 650 seats are safe seats so votes aren't equally represented)
Overall outcome isn't fair. Prevents new parties breaking in and leads to two party dominance. (Green Party only has one seat but have larger 3% of vote)
Additional Member System (AMS)
Information
Used by Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly
Voters are given two ballots which involves usual constituency vote and regional vote
Regional vote corrects FPTP problems with d'Hondt formula. As country is divided up into larger regions and party makes list of candidate order.
For
Proportional Result (eg Labour in Scotland got 19.1% of regional vote and got 18.6% of seats in 2016)
Split ticket voting (gives voters more choice so can vote for different MP and party)
A gov with broad popularity (and if end in coalition there will be lots of input)
Greater representation (eg Green Party in Scotland got 0 constituency seats bu got 6 regional seats from getting 6.6% of vote in 2016)
Preserves constituency link (eg SNP won 59 constituency seats but got 4 more to be proportionally represented in 2016)
Against
More complicated (maybe by having two votes)
An unlikely single-party government (may lead to coalitions which can be weaker, confusing and less effective eg Green - SNP August 2021)
First round using FPTP (argued still unfair due to safe seats etc)
Different types of representatives and could result in extremist candidates
Party control over the list of candidates (second round) and then argued not very democratic
Single Transferable Vote (STV)
Information
Used in the Northern Irish Assembly
Each region sends 6 members to the Northern Irish Assembly
Voters rank as many candidates as they want
To win candidate needs to achieve the 'droop quota' and get a seat
Leads to very close correlation between % if seats and % of votes reducing incentive to vote tactically
For
Gives a very proportional result
Gives voters a large amount of choice as 2nd, 3rd etc votes are taken into account
Has greater representation as multimember constituencies mean its more likely that someone will share a voters ideology
Against
More complicated esp the process after voting
It's unlikely single-party gov (aim due to Good Friday Agreement)
There are no elected representatives meaning there is a weak constituency link
Can help candidates with extremist views to get elected
Vote counting is complicated and time consuming
Supplementary vote (SV)
Information
Used for London Mayor elections
Voters have 1st and 2nd choice
If 1st choices lead to majority then candidate wins but if not 2nd votes are the counted
For
Voters can support more than one party so have more choice
Ensures winning candidate has clear majority
It is a reasonably simple system
Against
Leads to two party dominance
Winning candidate might not have a true majority
Large amount of votes have little to no impact and are 'wasted'
Third parties will be more excluded from winning seats than FPTP
Referendums
Examples
2016 EU referendum - 51.9% to 48.1% - turnout 72.2%
2011 FPTP replacement - 32.1% to 67.9% - turnout 42.2%
2014 Scottish Independence - 55.3% to 44.7% - turnout 84.6%
1998 London Mayor and Assembly - 72% to 28% - turnout 34%
Resons for referendums
To entrench constitutional reform (eg 2011 Wales devolution)
To test public opinion (eg North East Assembly 2004)
To resolve conflict with wider community (eg AV+ referendum)
To achieve public goal (eg Scottish Independence 2014)
To resolve conflicts within gov (AV vote and Brexit)
For use of referendums
Direct democracy - chance for public to have a say on important issues
Gives important decisions legitimacy making them unlikely to be overturned - esp due to uncodified constitution
Education and participation of public leading to national debate (inform)
Against use of referendums
Referendums that are won narrowly lead to a social rift that can't be reversed
May be a lack of education/ misinformation
The people voting may not be affected by out - older people and over 16s not being able to vote
May be low turnout so results are inaccurate
Timing of referendum and how its worded may mislead