Electoral Systems

First Past the Post
1. It is a plurality system so you only have to get more votes than everyone else
2. Helps maintain a 2 party system
3. Produces clear results with majorities and mandates
4. Allows swings from one party to another - landslide effect
5. There is a link between votes cast and seats gained called disproportionality
6. Many votes are safe seats and it all comes down to marginal seats
7. A party can get a lot of votes but no seats (UKIP, Green 2015)
The Alternative Vote
1. 1) Voters rank all candidates in order of preference
2. 2) First preferences are all counted and if no one has a 50% majority the bottom candidate drops out and votes are redistributed
3. 3) This goes on until one candidate has 50% of the votes
4. AV ensures fewer wasted votes
5. You can win of redistributed votes making you least unpopular candidate
6. Favours larger parties
Supplementary Vote
1. To win you must get 50% of the vote
2. Voters have a first and second preference
3. If the first preferences don't give a win. All candidates but top 2 drop out
4. Their second preferences are then redistributed to the remaining two candidates to bring about a result
5. SV is simpler than AV and is easy to understand
6. Could discourage small parties in favour of tactical voting
Regional Party List
1. Country is divided into large constituencies with lists of candidates provided by political parties
2. The parties rank their own candidates in order of their own preference. Voters vote for parties and seats are allocated off the list in direct proportion to votes cast
3. It is fair to all parties regardless of their size and popularity
4. A lot of small parties could lead a very unstable government
Single Transferrable Vote
1. Large constituencies with up to 7 seats each
2. Each party can have 7 candidates
3. Seats allocated on a quote and extra votes go to other preferences
4. Capable of achieving highly proportional outcomes
5. Can vary hugely based on the basis of the party system
Additional Member System
1. Voters, have two votes - "one plus one"
2. First votes are cast in single member constituencies in the traditional way, but the second vote is counted seperately towards a party list
3. Two types of representative are elected - one from local constituency and others nominated by political parties, according to the "plus one" vote cast
4. Balances the need for constituency representation against the need for electoral fairness
5. The retention of single-member constituencies reduces likelihood of high levels of proportionality

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Electoral Systems

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	Created by Peter Roe about 7 years ago