Electoral Systems

Question 1

FPTP - Majoritarian

Disadvantages

Answer 1

Disadvantages:

• Can result in hung parliament as seen in 2010 and 2017 GE
• This hung parliament causes coalitions that damage democratic transparency and make government less effective (2010 Cons. Lib Dem)
• Very disproportionate result that leads to a winner’s bonus. Favours concentrated support. (2017 GE Cons. got 42.3% vote but 48% of commons seats)
• Candidates can win with less than 50% of the votes
• Votes are wasted on candidates that simply cannot win
• Encourages tactical voting (2021 North Shropshire Lib Dem overtake cons in protest vote, prev safe seat)
• Creates safe seats (Over 56% of the UK is safe)
• Votes become unequal. Smaller constituencies voters have more power as it takes less
• Creates two party system

Question 2

FPTP - Majoritarian

Advantages:

Answer 2

• Usually produces strong single party government, giving mandate to carry out manifesto
• Quick and simple process (2010 Belgium proportional system took 18 months)
• AV Referendum 2011 found 68% of voters wanted FTPT
• The strong government it forms has a good majority allowing sweeping reform such as thatcher’s privatisation 1979

Question 3

AMS - Hybrid

Advantages and overview

Answer 3

Two votes are cast, one (Constituency) using FTPT, one for party using proportional

Used in scottish parliamentary elections, welsh assembly, Greater London Assembly

Advantages:

• 2nd ‘top up’ vote adds proportionality - 2016 Sco Par Lab 24% seats 23% votes.
• FPTP element maintains the strong constitution MP link
• Voters have a wider range of voting options as they can ‘split ticket’ vote

Question 4

AMS - Hybrid

Disadvantages:

Answer 4

• Creates two different types of member (MP?), one with and one without constituency, hindering legitimacy
• Party leaders can rank candidates, hindering independence
• Smaller parties suffer in terms of representation as the system is still majority FPTP
• Can cause minority governments as seen (1999 Labour lib dem coalition)
  Scotland bad ballots 200K

Question 5

STV Proportional

Advantages and overview

Answer 5

Used by N Ireland Assembly, Scottish council

Voters rank preference in numerical order, process of elimination, votes transferred to the next running candidate. Excessive votes that push MP over count are moved to the next choice.

Advantages:
- Higher voter choice, no wasted votes
- Reduces effectiveness of tactical voting
- Allows votes for different parties
- In N Ire its created power sharing body
Scottish council elections fair well with it

Question 6

STV Proportional

Disadvantages

Answer 6

:

• Not fully proportional
• Weakens MP-Constituent link in large areas
• Power sharing can cause shutdown (N Ire 2002-2007
• Can lead to donkey voting “alphabetical number list”

Question 7

SV

Overview and advantages

Answer 7

Two votes 1st and 2nd choice. All but top 2 eliminated, then 2nd choices counted and added

Advantages:

• Encourages campaigning as 2nd vote is important
• Relatively simple
• Little change from FPTP
• All MPs would have majority support
• Reduces tactical voting
• MP link kept as single member constituencies

Question 8

SV

Disadvantages

Answer 8

Disadvantages:

• Still promotes main parties as 3rd unlikely
• Tactical voting for 2nd place still possible
• Not guaranteed majority support

Question 9

Electoral system analysis - Where it came from

Answer 9

UK Has different systems thanks to Blairs 1997 election and devolution,new Lab did this because:

• Prevent another cons. 18 year stint
• Had pledged to modernise, in line with EU
• Lib dems, a potential coalition partner at the time supported reform
• FPTP actually benefited new lab 1997, so to keep to promise they experimented with devolved admins instead

Question 10

Impact on governments

Answer 10

FPTP Creates strong, single party with demo mandate however latest 3 2010,15,17 hung parliament
Proportional system would result in multiparty government (Weakened accountability)
Multiparty governments have junior parties, which can be bullied as seen in (2010-15 Coalition), libdem voters betrayed.
Proportional systems would mean weaker govs, which need consensus for all issues, better democracy