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GOV 1- Electoral Systems and Referenda

Types of Election

General Election - Previously the PM could call he GE at any time within the 5 years that they are in office, now with fixed term elections of 5 years the next GE will be in May 2015

By-Election - Elections in a constituency held when the previous MP stands down or dies. Recently the Clacton By-Election where the Conservative MP Mark Reckless defected to UKIP. He won the election and is now one of the two UKIP MP's in the Commons.

Local Elections - Held on a fixed term of 4 years similar to GE but the turnout is much less. Usually around 30%.

European Parliament Elections - UK sends 72 MEP'S to represent 12 regions. Uses a closed list system to elect the members. Nigel Farrage is a MEP.

Scottish Parliament Elections - Uses a different system, one for a candidate and the other for a party. 129 MSP's.

Welsh Assembly - Uses the same voting system as Scottish Parliament, but for Wales.

Northern Ireland Assembly.

First past the Post

Plurality

650 constituencies, each with a single MP, need a plurality of the votes. Voters put one cross in a box next to the name of the candidate they want. Candidate needs only one vote more than the nearest rival.

System is cheap and easy to operate/understand, helps drive up the turnout

Close MP-Constituency link.

Usually produces strong and stable majority governments.

Little voter choice leading to large numbers of wasted votes

disadvantages the smaller parties as people mainly vote for the main three

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