POLITICS - UK POLITICS - ALTERNATIVE ELECTORAL SYSTEMS

Whats the AMS electoral system

• additional member system combines FPTP with a proportional rep system

• AMS is used in the scot/Welsh parliaments

• 2 thirds of the seats are elected with fptp

• the other third is based off regional party lists

how do people vote in AMS

• one for a constituency

• one for a party

• the regional seats are calculated using a maths formula going to parties under represented with fptp

• this system is designed to ensure parliament is roughly proportional so if a party gets 10% of the votes they shld get roughly 10% of seats

whats the benefits of AMS

• makes the system more proportional

• retains the represntative - constituency link

• 2 votes so more choice , maybe want a different party rep locally v nationally

AMS disadvantages

• 2 types of representative , may be held to account differently

• system is more complex than FPTP may cause confusion

• the regional list could give more extreme parties a chance at power (bnp 2010)

• more likely to result in a minority / coalition gov which can cause disruption and make accountability harder

whats STV

• single transferrable vote in a proportional system used in NI assembly

• 6 seats each constituency

how are reps elected under STV

• voters rank candidates by preference

• quota for election is calculated

• the candidates receiving the lowest first preference votes are eliminated and their 2nd 3rd 4th ect votes are transferred to the remaining candidates

• if a candidate gets above the quota they are elected

• this process is repeated till 6 elected

advantages of stv

• broadly proportional

• wider choice of candidates to choose from

• gives choice between candidates of the same party meaning its not blindly party driven , most stand multiple candidates

• more people satisfied with the result as their vote still leads to result even if not first choice

• more consensus politics (rep from across the spectrum) good for divided society like ni

disadvantages STV

• system very complex , may cause confusion amongst voters

• may help extremist candidates get elected, Irish national party council

• 6 reps make responsibility and accountability less clear

• more likely to result in coalition/minority gov

Whats SV

• supplementary vote

• a majoritarian system

• was previously used for London mayoral elections

• conservatives changed to FPTP in 2022

how are candidates elected under SV

• voters get a first and a second choice

• if a candidate gets a majority in first choice they're elected

• if doesn't happen , top 2 candidates go to 2nd round

• all second choices of eliminated candidates transfered giving one a majority

advantages of SV

• winning candidate has majority , clearer mandate

• simpler than over electoral systems

• voters can choose more than one party

disadvantages of SV

• winning candidate may have only gone ahead with 2nd choice votes

• probably entrenches a 2 party system

• harder for 3rd parties to gain rep than even FPTP

Why was supplementary vote used for mayoral elections

• as mayors had a great deal of administrative power it was important to use SV to ensure the winning candidate had support from the majority of people

why was STV used in northern Ireland assembly

• history of political violence

• STV would mean nearly all parties wld have some representation

why AMS used scotland

• compromise between labour and smaller parties , labour dominated scot and Wales at the time

• FPTP would hugely advantage labour