CM4 - Elections & Voting

What reforms and Act have broadened the right to vote in the UK ?

• The Reform Acts, 1832, 1867 and 1884

• Representation of the People Acts, 1918 : granted the vote to all men over 21 and women over 30 with property

• The Equal Franchise Act, 1928 : equal voting rights for white men and women over 21

• The Representation of the People Act, 1969 : reducing the age of voting from 21 to 18

What are the different types of elections that exist in the UK ?

• General elections : elects the Members of Parliament for seats in the House of Commons

• Local elections : each constituency elects representatives

• Regional elections : each nation elects it’s Parliament : Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, Northern Ireland Assembly and the London Assembly

• European elections until 2019

• By-elections : in between main elections ( deaths and resignations…)

What is the name of the electoral system in the UK ?

• First Past The Post ( FPTP ) : a majority system like a horse race

How many constituencies are there in the UK ? How many MPs ?

• 650 constituencies

• 650 MPs

• 650 seats in the House of Commons

One MP elected per constituency. They only need the majority of the votes, not the absolute majority.

What is a “Hung Parliament” and what are the consequences ?

• When no party obtains a majority of constituencies ( 326 + )

• Three options then : a coalition government ( 2010 ), a minority government ( 2015 ) or another general election

What are the strengths of this system ?

• clear choice between parties

• Clear victory that encourage political stability by creating few coalitions or minority governments

• Makes tactical voting rare

• Ensures each MP represents a particular constituency

• Makes it possible for small parties to win over constituencies should they have a majority

What are the weaknesses of this system ?

• Ignores the size of majorities in constituencies

• Votes cast for the losing MP candidate are lost and wasted

• The victor MP does not need more votes than other candidates combined ( absolute majority +50% )

• Penalizes small parties as it ignores their votants should they be spread widely

What is “partisan class voter dealignment” ?

Process by which people no longer vote according to their social class → working class voters voting conservative instead of Labour

What is tactical voting ?

Voting for your second choice instead of the first one because they have a better chance of defeating the party you don’t want to see win

Ex : voting Labour when your alliance is with the Lib Dem’s because they have more chances to defeat the Conservatives

What 5 referendums have happened since the 70s ?

• 1975 - Leaving the European Economic Community ( EEC ) → NO

• 1997 - Giving greater devolution of power to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland → YES

• 2011 - Changing the FPTP electoral system to AV → NO

• 2014 - Scotland and independence from the UK → NO

• 2016 - Brexit → YES