UK electoral system 2025

what is plurality system

to win a seat, a candidate only need to have one more vote than candidates, they do not need a secure absolute majority.

what is Majoritarian system

used to elect one candidate, designed to secure an absolute majority for one candidate.

what is proportional system

a system that allocates seats in direct proportion to vote casts. they are multi-member constituencies.

what is Hybrid system

mixes two other types of system, such as plurality and proportional.

what is the First Past The Post voting system? (FPTP)

candidate with the highest number of votes is elected. they win even by one more vote. whoever gets most votes, gain most seats.

what are the advantages of FPTP ?

- votes can easily understand what they are voting for

- representatives are bound to needs and concerns of their constituency

- party with overall majority produce a clear mandate.

- it is traditional

what are the disadvantages of FPTP ?

- advantage to the parties with more concentrated support in certain regions.

- disadvantage to parties whose support is dispersed widely

- favours the large parties

- a 'winner bonus' biggest party tends to win more that their share of the vote.

- system has failed to make decisive government majority

what are safe seats?

candidate from a certain party are most likely to win every election (not always guaranteed.)

what are the implications of safe seats?

- parties pay little attention to safe seats in campaigns, making it harder for voters to get information.

- constituencies are less accountable for their actions because their guaranteed their seat.

- voters feel like their vote was wasted because they cant chance of influencing the outcome.

- votes are effectively not equal value. voters don't have much impact.

what are marginal seats?

where the outcome of an election is in doubt, seats are likely to change to another party

what are implications of marginal seats?

- marginalised parties concentrate on their seats meaning voters get more attention and information.

- more valuable than votes in safe seats, more likely to influence the result.

- individual candidate becomes more important than marginal seats.

- can be a result of 'tactical voting' - voter supports a party which are less likely to win and switches to the party that is more likely to.

what is the additional member system?

a hybrid system that combines FPTF with proportional representation system, also known as a 'closed party list' . used in Scotland, Wales and greater London. the voters have 2 votes, for constituency candidate and for a party.

what is the single transferable vote? (STV)

used in northern Ireland, used for assembly elections, local councils elections and local elections. six seats in each constitutions. voters can vote from any party. those who achieve the quota are automatically elected.

what are the advantages of STV?

- produces broad proportional outcome

- wide range of choices of candidates for voters

- voters can vote from different parties

- more choice of representatives

- helps small parties and independent candidates

what are the disadvantages of STV?

- complex system, some voters do not understand.

- vote count is complicated, takes up time

- can help extremists candidates to be elected

- lines of accountability are not clear.

what is the Supplementary vote? (SV)

a majoritian system - elects a single candidate. usually used to elect majors and MP's, but very little support for it. voters have 2 choices, if a candidate achieves overall majority, they are automatically elected, if not, the top 2 would be recounted and other eliminated.

what are the advantages of SV?

- candidate can claim an overall majority

- simple to understand

- voters have the opportunity to express their support for multiple parties.

what are the disadvantages of SV?

- chosen candidate may be chosen as a second choice

- entrench and promote two-party system

- third parties more excluded from winning seats.

what are referendums ?

it allows the public to decide on a issue presented to them by the government. conducted either local or national level, usually with a 'yes' or 'no'

Evaluate the view that referendums held in the UK since 1997 have brought more disadvantages than advantages

AO1: Agreement: Referendums have not fully settled many issues since 1997 with results still being contested after the outcome – a good example is the EU referendum in 2016 and the Scottish independence referendum in 2014

Disagreement: Referendums allowed the devolved regions to gain political influence and revive civic pride

AO2+AO3: agreement: Many issues remain contested political topics even after the outcome of a referendum. For instance, the referendum in 2016 over EU membership still divides public opinion given the vote was so close (AO2). We could be led to form a view that for a referendum to have real and lasting legitimacy it must have more than just a simple plurality of votes. (AO3)

disagreement: The referendums which introduced devolution have created institutions which are accepted and valued in all regions, and they have worked well (AO2) We can conclude that it would now be impossible to remove them without the consent of the people as their impact has been so strong (AO3)