LIST SYSTEMS

LIST SYSTEMS

1. used to operate multi-member constituencies

2. used in European elections

3. list systems in action

   • European elections 2014: UKIP- 26.6% of the vote
     • 24 seats won
     • 32.9% percentage of total seats

4. closed lists

   • ballot papers contain a list of parties
     • seats are allocated to the party on the basis of how many votes they win
   • partys have a list of candidates in ranking order and the required numbers of candidates are elected

5. open lists

   • voters get the opurtunity to vote for a candidate and the party
     • seats are allocated on the proportion of how many votes they won
       • candidates are chosen in the order of the number of the number of votes they win

6. ADVANTAGES

   • Produces a proportional result
   • fairer on smaller parties and in situations where there are minorities in the population
   • likely to produce coalitions
   • good for electing women and minority groups

7. DISADVANTAGES

   • Closed list gives power to the parties rather than the voters
     • closed list also reduces the voter choice
   • no clear link between mp's and their constituencies
     • probably will result in a coalition