Chapter 3 Electoral systems

Functions of elections

Representation

Accountability

Legitimacy - gives governments authority to rule.

FPTP

Each voter chooses one candidate; the candidate with the most votes wins the seat.

Advantages of FPTP

Simple to understand

Produces single-party majority governments.

Constituency link

Disadvantages of FPTP

Disproportional results

Safe seats and wasted votes

Marginalises smaller parties

Examples of disproportionality in FPTP

2024 - Labour only won 33% of the votes, but ended up with 63% of seats

2015 - UKIP got 12% of votes but 1 seat

AMS

Additional Member System - voters cast two votes: one for a constituency MP and one for a party list.

Scotland and Wales

Advantages of AMS

More proportional outcomes than FPTP

Constituency link

Helps smaller parties

E.g. Greens through regional list vote

Disadvantages of AMS

Confusing

Less clear accountability and more coalitions (weak government)

Disadvantages of FPTP

STV

Single Transferable Vote - voters rank candidates in multi-member constituencies.

Northern Ireland assembly

Advantages of STV

Highly proportional

Maximises voter choice

Reduces wasted votes.

Disadvantages of STV

Complicated

Weak constituency link

Leads to unstable governments

2020 - Took almost five months to form a government

SV

Supplementary Vote - voters select a first and second preference

London mayoral elections

Advantages of SV

Ensures majority support for winning candidate

Simple to use

Disadvantages of SV

Still not proportional

Votes for eliminated candidates may not count

Argument for electoral reform

Would produce fairer representation

Reduce voter apathy due to wasted votes.

Proportional representation systems encourage pluralism and consensus

Argument against electoral reform

Proportional representation leads to coalitions and weak governments

FPTP is simple and decisive

Rejected in 2011 AV referendum (68% said no)

Plurality

More votes than anyone else (FPTP)

Majoritarian

Numerical majority has authority (SV - London Assembly)