Electoral Systems arguments

Flashcards on the different voting systems, where they are used and their pros + cons

Police and Crime commissioners in England and Wales

SV

Previously used in London mayoral elections

SV

Welsh Assembly

AMS

Scottish Assembly system

AMS

Scottish Parliament

• 73 constituency seats

• 8 regional seats X 7 reps = 56 additional members

Greater London Assembly

AMS

• Smaller parties are less well represented under AMS than in an entirely proportional system because the party list system can advantage the largest parties

• Party list candidates have less legitimacy than constituency ones since they lack a personal mandate

• Lacks Democratic transparency as party choses list

Disadvantages of AMS

• Gives voters more choice - split ticket for local rep and prefered party

• FPTP gives a strong constituency link

• Proportional (through assigning list candidates based on no. votes for each party)

Advantages of AMS

• SV stops candidates winning through having a small level of support - ensures strong personal mandate

• Encourages positive campaigning as valuable to be 2nd choice

Advantages of SV

Disadvantage 1 of SV

• Only 2 choices, if none are in make top 2, then vote is wasted,

• 2012 Mayoral Election - 15% of votes were wasted in first round, 7% in second

• Could lower turnout

• 2021 election = 41% turnout

Disadvantage 2 of SV

• NOT PROPORTIONAL

• only one candidate is elected - doesn’t represent multiple views of voters

• This can also encourage 2 party dominance

Disadvantage 3 of SV

• False majority

• A candidate only needs to gain a majority of the ‘valid vote’ - winning candidate may not have true majority

• Second round votes of anyone with no second preference, or an eliminated second preference are not counted.

2016 London Mayoral Election

• SV

• Sadiq Khan won by 58%

Disadvantage 1 of FPTP

• Unequal vote value

• benefits parties with concentrated support, so may not be proportional

• Safe seats mean that your vote has little power

Disadvantage 2 of FPTP

• Lack of a majority

• Only need a plurality of the vote

• Significant number of constituents views not represented at parliament

Disadvantage 3 of FPTP

• Winner’s bonus

• Inflates the number of seats to votes

• 2019 - 43% of national vote, 56% seats

• Reinforces 2 party dominance

Advantages of FPTP

• Strong constituency link

• 2 party system (567/650 seats Lab/Con) = centrist policies

• Strong government majority (counter - May )