Politics paper 1- Voting systems, elections & referendums

List a few advantages of referendums:

• They demonstrate clear public support for a change.

• Holding referendums between elections gives people to have their say more frequently and hold the government to account.

• A referendum allows a single issue to be decided in isolation. They can resolve issues that elections cannot.

List a few disadvantages of referendums:

• Referendums normally have low turnouts and this can reduce their legitimacy.

• Electors lack expertise on complicated issues.

• If arguments are not explained clearly, then turnouts may be low, and arguments may be distorted.

Give an example of a referendum held that had a positive-

• The Scottish independence referendum gave rise to many important issues, such as the impact of the independence on the economy.

Give an example of a referendum which had negative effects-

• The 2011 AV referendum was a protest vote against the unpopularity of the Lib Dems.

In the 2016 UK referendum for should the UK remain a member of the EU or leave the EU, what was the turnout, no vote, and yes vote?

Turnout- 72.2%

No vote- 48.1%

Yes vote- 51.9%

How does FPTP work?

• Voters receive a ballot paper with a list of candidates.

• Each party has only one candidate to choose from.

• Voters put a cross next to their favourite candidate.

• The candidate with the most votes wins.

Where is FPTP used?

General elections and local elections

Which type of electoral system is FPTP?

Plurality

List some advantages of FPTP-

• Widely understood by the public

• Produces a strong government

• The smaller parties can sometimes do well (the SNP)

• Provides clear link between MPs and constituencies.

List some disadvantages of FPTP-

• It is not representative as it doesn’t produce MPs or a government with a majority vote.

• Parties with as little as 35% can lead the country.

• Too many votes wasted.

• The system goes fairly against minority parties.

How does AMS work?

• There are two votes, a vote for your constituency, and a vote for a party.

• You put a cross on each ballot paper by the candidate and party you want to win.

• To find the winner you calculate using this equation…. regional votes/(No. constituency/MSPS already won in region +1)

Where is AMS used?

The Scottish parliament

What type of electoral system is AMS?

Plural and majoritarian

List some advantages of AMS-

• Voters have more choice.

• It is fairer as it is proportional.

• Every vote counts.

List some disadvantages of AMS-

• A lot of people find it too complex.

• There are multiple representatives, which people can find confusing.

• Coalitions likely.

• Not very proportional.

• Parties control regional lists.

• People more likely to make mistakes in voting.

How does STV work?

• There are six seats available in each constituency.

• Voters get a ballot paper with six candidates on.

• Voters rank candidates from 1 to 6.

• An electoral quota is counted.

• The equation to calculate the winner is… the total number of votes divided by the number of seats available plus one.

Where is STV used?

Northern Ireland for all elections, and sometimes in Scotland.

What type of electoral system is STV?

Proportional

List some advantages of STV-

• Greater representation.

• Most proportional voting system.

• More choice for voters.

List some disadvantages of STV-

• Leads to Coalitions- which could be a weaker government.

• More complicated- voters may not understand.

How does SV vote work?

• Voters have two choices, a first and secondary preference.

• If any candidate achieves an overall majority, I.e. 50% +1 of the first choice or round, he or her is automatically elected.

• If this doesn’t happen, the top two candidates go into a second round of counting.

Where is SV used?

Mayor elections

What type of electoral system is SV?

Majoritarian

Advantages of SV?

• Winning candidate can claim to have an overall majority.

• Relatively simple to understand.

Disadvantages of SV?

• The winning candidate may win on second choices.

• Lots of votes wasted.

What is the difference between an election and referendum?

An election gives voters the opportunity to choose representatives who will form representative institutions and government, whereas a referendum offers us a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ choice in a debate

What type of constituency is FPTP?

Single-member

What type of constituency is STV?

Multi-member

What type of constituency is AMS?

Mix of single and multi-member

How many constituencies is the UK divided into?

650

List some functions of elections:

• Legitimacy

• To educate people

• Holding government to account

• Representation of different ideas

List some different types of elections-

• General elections

• Elections to the devolved assemblies

• Local election

• By-elections

What is a majoritarian system?

Where the winning candidate must get an absolute majority of the vote.

What is a plurality system?

The winner needs only a plurality of votes cast, not an absolute majority.

What is proportional representation?

The larger the constituency, the more proportional the result.

What is a mixed system?

Has elements of plurality, with proportional representation.

What percentage of the vote did the conservatives get in 2019?

44%

Why is AMS more representative than FPTP?

It is easier to elect a minority party, a woman, or people from ethnic minorities.

Why is STV well representative?

There is a great diversity in choice, minorities well represented, strong link between constituency and representative…

What is a minority government?

A government formed that doesn’t have an overall majority (often happens with FPTP)

What is a coalition?

It is a government where political parties enter a power-sharing arrangement of the executive.

Given an example of when a coalition government was formed.

2010, when David Cameron formed a coalition between the Conservatives and Lib Dems.

List some reasons for National referendums-

• For independence referendums

• Referendums over devolved powers

• To decide if the UK should leave or remain in the EU (Brexit)

• To decide if the voting system should be changed.

• 2014 Scottish referendum.

List some reasons for local referendums-

• Neighbourhood planning

• raising council tax

• Referendums to decide whether there should be congestion charges

• 2012 local referendum to decide whether to move to directly elected mayors.