Electoral Systems in the UK

Electoral Systems in the UK

1. Single Transferable Vote

   • Used in NI Assembly, NI local government, Scottish local government
   • How does it work?
     • Each constituency returns several representatives (usually six)
     • An electoral quota is calculated - the number of votes, divided by the number of seats plus 1, then 1 is added to the total
     • Voters may vote for as many or as few candidates as they wish
     • Candidates who reach the quota on first choices are automatically elected
     • Second and subsequent preference votes for candidates already elected are then added to the rest of the candidates. This continues until six candidates achieve the quota
     • Voters have a very wide choice
     • Voters may discriminate between candidates of the same party
   • The outcome is very proportional
   • It retains constituencies but most people have a representative who represents their favoured party
   • In NI Assembly - 5 different parties gain a significant number of seats
     • This gives rise to a power-sharing government
   • In local government it produces multi-party representation

2. Regional List

   • Used to elect members to the European Parliament
   • How does it work?
     • Each party presents a list of candidates in its chosen order of preference
     • Voters have one vote which they cast for a party list, not an individual candidate
     • Seats are awarded to each party broadly in proportion to the votes cast for that party
   • Every vote is of exact equal value
   • The outcome is highly proportional
   • Six different parties gained seats in the European Parliament

3. Additional member system

   • Used in Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and Greater London Assembly
   • How does it work?
     • A proportion of the seats (about 2/3) are elected by FPTP
     • The rest of the seats are elected through regional list
       • Voters choose between parties not candidate
       • Seats are awarded according to the proportion of votes for each party, adjusted according to the extent which parties are discriminated against under FPTP
     • Voters have 2 choices
   • Helps small parties
   • The outcome is very proportional
   • Retains the constituency system
   • In Scotland it produced a 4 party system.
   • In Wales there is a 4 party system. It has always produced 2 party coalition governments.
   • In GLA six parties have won seats

4. Supplementary Vote

   • Used to elect Mayors
   • How does it work?
     • Used to elect a single individual
     • Voters have a first and second preference
     • If one candidate secures over 50% of the first preference of voters, he or she is elected
       • If not, all but the top two are eliminated
         • The second preferences cast for each of the top two candidates are then added and the winner is the candidate with more votes when first and second preferences are added together
   • Successful way of electing individuals with a clear mandate
   • Winner is guaranteed an overall majority

5. FPTP

   • Used to elect members to the House of Commons in Westminster
   • How does it work?
     • Country is divided into 650 constituencies
     • Voters choose from a list of candidates
       • The candidate who receives most votes is elected
         • Each constituency elects one MP
   • The result, in terms of the distribution of seats between parties in the HOC is not proportionate to overall support for each of the parties.
     • e.g. Labour won the 2005 election (over 50% of seats) with only 35% of the popular vote
     • e.g. The Conservatives won 36% of the total votes in 2010, but 47% of seats
       • The Lib Dems won 23% of the votes in 2010 but only 9% of seats
   • The System favours parties that have concentrated support, such as Labour and conservative
   • Very small parties normally don't win any seats
     • Many votes for small parties are effectively 'wasted'
   • Creates many safe seats where the result is an inevitable win for one of the parties
   • Tends to produces a clear winner, with one party winning an overall majority of seats