Summary
Summary Electoral systems for A level/AS government and politics (Edexcel)
- Module
- Unit 1 - People and Politics
- Institution
- PEARSON (PEARSON)
FPTP,STV etc confusing? read my notes !
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FPTP:Type - Simple Plurality System
Used - England,in UK general elections, by-elections and local elections
How to vote? - Cross on the ballot prefer to your preferred candidate
Win? - Candidate that gets more votes than rivals win
Advantages -
•Simplicity = the system is very easy for voters to use,they simply mark an ‘x’ to their
preferred candidate. It is also very easy for voters to understand the result,the candidate with
a plurality of the vote is the winner.
•Accountability= majority government clearly responsible for policy
•Stability=FPTP produces strong & stable government
•Quick to count votes and work out who has won
•Cheap
Disadvantages -
•Representatives can get elected with a small amount of public support,as the size of the
winning margin is irrelevant. What matters is only that they get more votes than other
candidates
•Limits choice for the voters in several ways. Each party puts forward a single candidate,so
there is no choice between individuals representing different shades of opinions within the
party. This can depress voter turnout,as people feel that there is no point in voting for a
candidate,who cannot be elected,because the same party holds the seats in every election.
(2015 had 364 safe seats). Can result in tactical voting,meaning people vote for the
candidate most likely to prevent the party they dislike from winning.
• Doesn't translate the number of votes into seats for each party with any real accuracy.
System favours parties whose vote is concentrated than those whose support is spread
across a large geographical area
Similarities to other system -
•AMS uses FPTP as well in their system.
•Like AMS/STV,bigger parties win in FPTP vote
Differences to other system -
•FPTP only lets you vote once
•It's a plurality system
•Quick results
•Strong link between MP
AMS:
Type - Mixed electoral system
Used - Scottish and Welsh parliament and the London assembly
How do you vote? - Each voter usually casts 2 votes;
•Vote for a candidate constituency
•Vote for for a party list standing in a wider region,made up multiple constituencies
Win? -
•(After all the constituency votes are counted),Additional MSPs are allocated to each of right
Scottish parliamentary regions
•In the constituency vote,the person with the most votes win
Advantages -
, •More choice= voters have more choice when they go to vote. First vote choose a local
representative from 1 party,second vote can choose a different party
•Fairer to all parties
•More views represented
Disadvantages -
•Complex as elections are complicated with 2 votes & deciding which candidates are elected
from the regional list
•Multiple representatives can be confusing
Similarities to other systems -
•In both STV and AMS,voter has more than one vote
•Proportional result like STV
Differences to other Systems -
•AMS is used in the Scottish parliament mainly
•Hybrid System
•Two votes
•Split ticket voting
•D'Hondt Method (minimises the number of votes that need to be left aside so that the
remaining votes are represented exactly proportionally)
STV:
Type - Multi- winner. Proportional system
Used - Northern Ireland,Scotland and general elections in the Republic of Ireland
How do you vote? - Voters are asked to rank the candidates in order of preference. Voter
can vote for as many candidates as they wish
Win? -
•Each voter has one vote.Once the counting has finished, any candidate who has more
number ones than the quota is elected.
• But, rather than ignore extra votes a candidate received after the amount they need to win,
these votes move to each voter’s second favourite candidate.
•If no one reaches the quota, then the people counting the vote remove the least popular
candidate.
• People who voted for them have their votes moved to their second favourite candidate.
This process continues until every vacancy is filled.
Advantages -
•Greater voting choice as voters can rank candidates, giving them more choice
•Wider representation as each voter has severe councillors to represent them.Gives more
choice in who they speak to about problems
•Helps smaller parties and independent candidates go be elected
Disadvantages -
•More complex as several different representative covering the same ward are likely to be
represented
•Coalitions more likely, as most parties gain representation under STV
•The voting process is simple,what happens after may reduce turnout
Similarities to other systems -
•More than one vote like AMS
•Coalitions more likely to happen like in AMS
Differences to other systems -
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