SV (Supplementary Vote) + analysis

3 places SV is used:

1. London Mayoral elections

2. Metro mayors

3. Police & crime commissioners

Logistics

1. Voters have a first and second choice vote

2. Everyone but the top two candidates are eliminated if no one has above 50% of the vote after the votes have been counted

3. Any votes that had the top two as second choice are transferred, votes that had two losing candidates as the top two (non-transferable) are wasted

% of votes wasted in 2012 because were non-transferable

7%

London Mayoral election 2021 — Khan % of first choice votes

40%

London Mayoral election 2021 — number of people that put both their 1st and 2nd preference as the same person

225000 (only L and C though)

London Mayoral election 2021 turnout

41%

2 important issues with SV

1. Influence reduced if no second preference expressed

2. All London Mayors either C or L

3. Rejected ballots

Year in which non L/C London mayor elected and who

• 2000

• Independent Ken Livingstone elected

Winning over 50% of the total ballots

Only happened in 2016, according to the electoral commission

London Mayor elected with over 50% over 2 rounds

Sadiq Khan

Khan — % first preferences

• 44%

• Goldsmith (opponent) got 35%

Khan — % votes in 2nd round

• 56.8%

2017- first round victories — Burnham

• Greater Manchester

• Andy Burnham

• 63% of first round votes

2017- first round victories — Rotheram

• Liverpool City Region

• Steve Rotheram

• 59% of first round votes

4 elections when second round votes needed

1. West Midlands- Street

2. Tees Valley- Houchen

3. West of England- Bowles

4. Sheffield- Jarvis

• All candidates from main 2 parties

Turnout average in second round vote needed elections

25%

2016 number of PCC contests won by C or L

33/36 won by Con or Labour

2016 — av. turnout in PCC elections

• Av turnout: 27.3% (higher than 2012)

• Possibly due to combination with other elections:

  • Local + PCC elections: 32.8%

  • PCC elections: 20.2%

% of ballots rejected

• 3.4%

  • Higher than any other nationwide electoral event in recent years

  • 25% had more than 1 candidate chosen as 1st choice

% of rejected ballots rejected at count of 2nd votes

• 24%

  • 80% + due to lack of 2nd choice

Proportionality/party representation — 4 evaluative points

1/5

• Disproportionate majority means mediocre proportionality

• Extremist parties less likely to be successful

• False majorities common

• Tactical voting has a massive influence

Voter choice — 3 evaluative points

3/5

• Fosters a 2 party system that favours big parties (elimination of all but top 2)

• Diminishes democracy due to the high proportion of spoilt ballots, second choice is mandatory

• Has more choice than FPTP, but if votes aren’t placed for a major party they’re wasted

Strong and stable govt — 2 evaluative points

4.5/5

• Will always, and has always produced, a big majority

• This is a false majority though

Constituency-voter link — 1 evaluative point

2/5

• Simple system that’s easy to understand