UK Politics- Electoral systems: STV

What type of system is STV?

Proportional (very proportional)

Where is STV used?

Northern Irish Assembly (Stormont)

How does STV work?

Voters number their choices in preferential order. To be elected a candidate must achieve a quota which is calculated using a formula. Surplus votes for a winner are transferred to second choice.

How is STV more proportional?

All votes, including surplus votes for winners and votes for losers are considered so the seat allocation matches vote share.

Evidence of STV producing proportional results-

In the 2022 NI assembly elections, the Sinn Fein recieved 29% of the vote and 30% of Stormont's seats

Example of STV being successful in encouraging power sharing-

STV was established as a feature of the NI assembly after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement following the troubles. STV always results in a coalition in which the biggest party gets to choose First Minister and the second biggest party gets to choose Deputy First Minister. This means the unionists and nationalists share power.

Which parties typically receive the most votes in NI?

Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party

Evidence of STV resulting in unstable coaltions-

Stormont has been suspended 5x, it has been suspended for 35% of its lifespan, It suspended for 3yrs in 2017 due to disagreements between SF and the DUP about an Irish language act and a green energy scandal

Main advantages of STV-

Fairer (proportional), greater voter choice (multiple MPs from the same party), power sharing, improved ideological representation

Main disadvantages of STV-

Coalitions have a much weaker mandate, coalitions voted under STV have been dysfunctional, it is extremely complex (lower turnout)