Recording-2025-03-12T18:48:36.987Z

Overview of First Past the Post (FPTP) Voting System

• The FPTP system allows each citizen to cast one vote, and the candidate with the most votes wins.

• It is often viewed as simple, fair, and logical.

Problems with FPTP

1. Minority Rule

• Under FPTP, a candidate can win without securing a majority of the votes.

• Example: In an election, Leopard gets 20 votes (winner), Tiger 15, and Snake 6.

• This means that 80% of the voters wanted a different candidate, leading to minority rule.

• In larger elections with more candidates, a candidate could win even with as little as 5% of the total vote.

2. Two-Party System

• FPTP often leads to a two-party system over time.

• This occurs because voters from smaller parties may feel their votes are wasted which influences their voting behavior.

• Voters may opt for a less favored candidate with higher chances of winning (strategic voting).

• Example: After Leopard's rule, turtle voters support Gorilla, viewing him as the best alternative to Leopard, while snake voters are pulled towards Tiger, fearing a Leopard victory.

• This cycle continues as the major parties remain dominant and competition from smaller parties is reduced.

Consequences of FPTP in the Animal Kingdom

• The iterative nature of voting under FPTP develops a system dominated by two major parties.

• Citizens do not favor this system; rather, they end up with it because of the structural advantages it provides to the leading parties.

• Curiously, this dynamic mirrors why the United States predominantly exhibits a two-party political system.

• Changing this outcome would require reforming the electoral system.

Example Scenario: Electoral Boost and Representation

• The conversation touches on the implications of winning a constituency by a majority (e.g., achieving 70% support).

• This shows that while one candidate can dominate in certain areas, it fails to reflect diverse voter preferences sufficiently across the broader electoral landscape.

• Voters should potentially have the option to rank candidates or express preferences beyond a binary choice to better gauge public sentiment.

Brexit Referendum Context

• The narrative shifts to questions surrounding the Brexit process.

• David Cameron, then Prime Minister, campaigned for remaining in the EU.

• The outcome showed a clear division in public opinion, leading to further questions about the accuracy and interpretation of the referendum results.