Electoral Systems

Additional Member System

• Used in the Scottish Parliament, The Welsh Assembly, and the Greater London assembly

• Constituency Vote- Each constituency elects a single member on a plurality basis (like FPTP)

• The Regional Vote- Uses the ‘d’Hondt’ formula, seats are allocated to the party most under represented

Supplementary Vote

• Majoritarian System

• Is no longer in use but was used for Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners

• Voters vote for a first and second choice

• All first round votes are counted, a majority of half or more wins

• If none of the candidates have a majority, the top two candidates are found and the second round of votes for them are added

• Whoever has the majority after the second round ballots are added, wins

Single Transferable Vote

• Used in the Northern Irish Assembly

• Proportional and ordinal voting system

• Candidates are ranked by voters and need to reach the ‘Droop Quota’ to win

• Once a candidate reaches the ‘Droop Quota’ extra votes are distributed to second choices

• If no reaches the quota the least voted for is eliminated and votes distributed

• Continues until all available seats are filled

First Past the Post

• Plurality System in single member constituencies

• Used in Westminster general elections

• Plurality vote/ relative majority- a candidate polls more votes than any other, but does not receive a majority