Voters and elections (copy)

Voter turnout

the number of citizens casting a valid vote expressed either as a % of eligible voters or as % of registered voters

 

Voting/electoral systems

arrangements by which votes are converted into seats on representative bodies

Plurality/majority electoral system

goal is to identify a clear winner. Larger parties win a higher proportion of seats than the proportion of votes they gain in the election

Simple plurality, majority voting system

In each constituency, 1 candidate is elected. Candidate with highest percentage of votes in the constituency is elected -> plurality of votes (>%)

 

2nd ballot, majority voting system

Majority (>50%) of votes is needed to win the seat. If no candidate wins a majority of votes in first round, a second round is needed. Number of candidates in second rounds is limited

Proportional representation

Each party receives more or less the same share of seats as it won of the votes. Goal is to represent the diversity of society.

List PR, proportional representation

Parties compile a list of candidates. In each constituency, multiple candidates are elected. Parties can balance their ticket because they can give more candidates in each district. Better chance of getting the votes from these subgroups

Partisan de-alignment

Decline in the strength of attachment to political parties

Partisan realignment

Change of old party identifications in favour of new ones.

Volatility

The opposite of stability, volatility involves change in voting patterns from one election to another. Some refer to it as ‘churning’.

Sociological approaches the Columbia School

People vote according to their membership in social groups and that social groups vote for the party that best serves their interest

Psychological approaches: the Michigan school

Concentrate on individual characteristics particularly the role of party identification. Voting is a result of psychological attachment of people to their party. Stable preference over time

 

Funnel of causality

Prism through which the individual perceive politics and interpret policies, issues, parties and candidates