voting methods

marginal seats

a seat with a small majority

115 in 2024 election (48 more than 2019)

115 in 2024 election (48 more than 2019)

First Past the Post (FPTP)

voters pick a single candidate to represent their constituency. winner takes all based on plurality

plurality

winner obtaining more votes than all other opponents. (doesn't mean absolute majority)

marginal seats - limitation

reinforces idea of wasted votes due to no overwhelming support

e.g: hendon, london (2024)- labour won with a 15 vote majority

safe seats - limitations

unrepresentative- party wont change in theory leading to lower participation

(safest seat in 2024 was 'north west chordy'= majority of 21,983 votes)

recources- parties aim recources at marginal seats and neglect others making elections less competitve

flaws of FPTP

often generates a disproportionate result

2024- reforms 14% of all votes = 1% of all seats in the house of commons but lab 34% of all votes = 64% of 650 seats

FPTP- advantadges

voters choose candidate not a party, making a local representitve link

reproduces majority governments, more stable

Additional Member System (AMS)

one vote for a local representitve (fptp) and another vote for a political party, used in scottish parliament

AMS- negatives

'overhang seats' can distort proportionality of overall result

votes can result in wasted regional votes if a party wins a huge share of constuituency result (regularly happens in scotland, 2019- nearly 1.1 million regional votes returned 2 regional seats)

AMS - positives

gives voters local and national representation (reduces amount of wasted votes in marginal seats)

gives smaller parties a chance in elections= more influential (unlike FPTP where smaller parties like reform and the greens were disadvantaged by the FPTP system- 2024)

single transferable vote (STV)

allocates seats in accordance with votes cast = multi member constituencies, used in northern ireland elections

stv- negatives

slower process than FPTP however results can be known in 48 hours

leads to coalitions = weaker governments, unlikely to remain politically stable

stv- positives

all votes are equal, allows all votes to be counted in a way

proportionate results, number of seats the party has are similar to the votes casted for them

Supplementary vote (sv)

elects single candidate with a clear majority, used to elect metro mayors in england

sv- positives

clear mandate, more people vote for them as a whole

strong links with constituency and representatives

reduction of wasted votes due to the 2nd choice

sv- weaknesses

significant number of wasted votes, especially for those who vote for minority parties

creates 2 party system, 1st and 2nd choices are typically for the 2 main parties= hinders minor ones