Electoral Systems

Electoral Systems

1. First Past the Post

   • Majoritarian
   • Used for Westminster elections
   • Voters understand how it works
   • Usually produces a clear winner
   • Do not need majority of vote to win
     • Plurality
       • More than any other party
   • 2015 GE
     • Conservative 37% vote 51% seats
   • Usually produces clear winner

2. Additional Member System

   • Scottish Elections (Holyrood)
   • Proportional
   • Presents a clear view of how votes were cast
   • Meant to prevent majority Government
     • Doesn't always work
     • 65 seats for majority (129)
     • 2011 SNP 69 seats
   • Minority parties struggle to pass legislation
   • SNP 2016 63 seats
     • Need support from other parties (greens) to pass legislation
   • Helps to ensure the views of th electorate are always being represented

3. Single Transferable Vote

   • Scottish Local council elections
   • Rank candidates in order of preference
   • Purpose to return more than one winner
   • Meet the quota - surplus votes distributed
   • As parties must work together, there are disagreements
     • Time wasted
   • Voters find system confusing
     • Wasted ballot papers

4. Alternative Vote

   • Candidate list in order of preference
   • Winner must have majority
   • If no majority, second preference
   • Candidate with most 1st preference may not win after 2nd 3rd redistributed
   • Unfair to minority parties
   • MPs would have a majority
   • More overall support