Elections

Elections

1. Functions of Elections

   • Judging the performance of the current government in power
   • Electing MP's to represent the constituency
   • Deciding between political programmes
   • Choosing leaders
   • Granting a mandate

2. Definitions

   • Electoral Mandate - The authority given to a winning party
   • Electoral Manifesto - Statement released by parties before an election stating policies they wish to enforce
   • Electoral System - Converts votes into seats

3. Links between Democracy & Elections

   • Negatives
     • Elections don't give PR and FPTP favours certain parties
     • Governments can get elected on a minority vote
     • Large parties have disproportionate funds
   • Positives
     • Eledctions are free to participate in with few voter restrictions
     • Most people are able to form a party and stand for election
     • Free info & free media
     • Deliver a democratic mandate
     • Free from corruption

4. First Past The Post

   • Advantages
     • Each constituency returns one MP
     • Stops smaller parties getting too much power
     • Strong government
     • Voters have 1 vote, easy and quick
     • Only 1 candidate per constutuency
     • Clear outcomes
     • Clear winner e.g May 2010 Conservatives - 10,738,826 votes = 307 seats & Labour - 8,609,527 votes = 258 seats
   • Disadvantages
     • Seats not in proportion to votes
     • Small and independent parties ignored
     • Some votes count more than others
     • Can be elected without 50% of vote e.g Glenda Jackson
     • All other votes from non winning party mean nothing

5. Other Electoral Systems

   • AMS
     • How?
       • Ensures PR
       • Seats awarded by list
       • 1/3rd list closed
       • 2/3rds elected by FPTP
     • Where?
       • Welsh Assembly
       • Scottish Parliament
   • SV
     • How?
       • Top 2 choices are added on
       • More than 50% win
       • Voters have 2 preferences
     • Where?
       • London Mayor election
       • Australian house of reps
   • STV
     • How?
       • Rest if preferences are redistributed
       • Repeated until achieved quota
       • Voters rank candidates
     • Where?
       • Northern Ireland
       • Republic of Ireland
   • Regional Lists
     • How?
       • Closed: No choice
       • Open: Voters can show a preference
       • Voters vote for list
       • Parties produce list per region
       • Seats are PR
     • Where?
       • Israel
       • Most of Europe
       • UK for MEP's

6. Electoral Reform Debate

   • For
     • Represents the electorate better
     • Voters given more choice
     • Use of second vote is better
     • Value of votes is better
     • With lists for example, people can choose more
   • Against
     • Referendim campaign alerted public to the drawbacks of alternative systems
     • 2012 general election caused a hung parliament
     • For lists people may vote unfavouringly
     • Lib dems became unsupportive so declined

7. Proportional Representation

   • Impact on...
     • AMS
       • More diverse range of parties
       • More parties get administrative power
       • Enhances representation
       • Minor party representation in Scotland
     • STV
       • Preserves large constituencies
       • High proportional result
       • Voters have wider choice
       • Favours smaller parties
       • Coalitions are inevitable
       • Structure of parliament will change
     • Lists
       • Accurately proportional
       • Multi- party system
       • Gives smaller parties representation
       • Eliminates constituencies
   • For
     • Would be more representative
     • Stronger democracy
     • More authority & legitimacy
     • More votes would count
     • Allows smaller parties
     • More choice
     • Prevents 2 part systems
   • Against
     • Weak government
     • Increased coalitions
     • More time consuming
     • Unstable government
     • Constituency link may be lost
     • Extremist parties can flourish