Voting Systems

Features of FPTP

• single member constituencies → having 650 constituencies makes a clear link between citizens and representation

• Plurality system → they don’t need to win more than 50% of the vote

• Each voter has one vote

How FPTP works

• each voter votes for one candidate

• Votes are counted locally And the candidate with the most votes wins that seat

• All 650 constituency results are added together to see how many seats each party has gained

• The party with 326+ seats is invited to perform a majority government

• If no party gains a majority a coalition is formed

Advantages of FPTP

• simple to understand helping voters feel confident at the ballot box

• Usually leads to decisive decisions

• Tends to create stable governments through parliamentary term (5 year)

  
  

Disadvantages of FPTP

• often produces disproportionate results

• High number of wasted votes

• Does not always guarantee strong majority governments

Case study for the disproportionate nature of FPTP

The 2024 general election is known as one of the most disproportionate elections in history, Labour won 34% of the vote share but 411 seats, conservatives won 24% of the vote share and 121 seats and liberal democrats won 12% of the vote share and 7 seats whilst Reform won 14% vote share and 5 seats

Why should FPTP be replaced?

• fairies representation

• Reduce wasted votes

• Broader choice

• Increased turnout

• Fewer safe seats

• Marginalize extremism parties

• reflect modern politics

Why we should not get rid of FPTP

• clear accountability

• Simple and familiar

• Preserves constituency links

  • Limits small party influence

  • Maintains policy clarity

  • Reform could be difficult

Features of additional member system

• single member and multi member constituencies → constituency representatives elected using fptp and regional representatives elected from party lists

• Proportional system → fptp element is balanced by regional lists

• Each voter has two votes → one vote for constituency candidate and one vote for regional party lists Each voter

How AMS works

• voters cast two votes

• One for constituency member

• One for a regional party lists member

• A party’s total seats equal its constituency seats plus its regional seats

• The largest party is invited to form a government or parties may for a coalition

Advantages of AMS

• more proportional than fptp

• Maintains the constituency links

• Increases representation

• Helps smaller parties succeed

  
  

Disadvantages of AMS

• Not fully proportional due to the constituency element favoring larger parties

• Creates two types of representatives, constituency and regional so can create perceptions of unequal legitimacy

• More complex system

Case study for AMS

2021 Holyrood (Scottish parliament) election SNP won 64 of 129 MSPs one short of a majority, the greens won 8 MSPs enabling a pro-independence majority of 72 showing how AMS enabled greens to join government for the first time

Features of STV

• highly proportional system → redistributes unused votes ensuring more votes contribute

• Ordinal voting → voters rank candidates giving them control over both party and candidate choice

How does STV work?

1. Multi-member constituencies are established

2. The Droop quota is calculated using the formula

3. First preference votes are counted and any candidate meeting the quota is elected

4. Surplus votes from elected candidates are transferred based on voters next preference

5. Steps continue to all seats are filled

   
   

Advantages of STV

• highly proportional

• Gives voters more choice and confidence

• Minimizes wasted votes

• Reduces the number of safe seats

Disadvantages of STV

• complex and may reduce turnout

• Weakens the local constituency links due to representatives covering a larger area

• Often leads to coalition governments

• Counting takes longer

Case study for STV

Northern Ireland 2022, chose 90 representatives across 18 five-member constituencies with a 64% turnout, despite a proportional outcome, no government formed due to the DUPs refusal to participate in power sharing

Features of SV

• single-member constituencies

• Requires candidates to recieve over 50% of vote

• Voters mark first and second preferences

How does SV work?

• voters mark their first and second choices

• First preference votes are counted

• A candidate with more than 50% wins

• If not the top two remain

• Second preferences from eliminated candidates ballots are added tot he totals of the top two candidates

• Candidates with over. 50% wins

Advantages of SV

• encourages broad appeal → candidates must attract second preference support aswell

• relatively simple

• Results are counted faste

• Gives smaller parties a better opportunity

Disadvantages of SV

• can produce disproportionate results

• Still leads to wasted votes

• Encourages tactical votes

• Reinforces a two party system