UK electoral systems Fotolia. UK electoral systems How to revise electoral systems In order to achieve high marks when answering a question on electoral

UK electoral systems

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How to revise electoral systemsIn order to achieve high marks when answering a question on electoral systems, you

need to revise the following:

definitions of different electoral systems and key terms

examples of where different electoral systems are used in the UK, and how

successfully they operate

examples of how election results vary depending on the electoral system used

analysis of how effective different electoral systems are

The following slides begin by giving you an analytical framework to consider — the

features of an ideal voting system — and then examine the different voting systems

in turn.

These slides are intended to help you revise basic principles. You will need to look at

your class notes/textbooks for specific examples.


Features of an ideal voting systemThe ideal voting system would be able to achieve the following outcomes.

Voter choice — giving voters a choice of both party and candidate.

Constituency link — having constituency-based MPs allows voters to feel a

connection to their MP, and to feel that their local issues are being represented in

Parliament.

High levels of participation — voter apathy is low as people feel that they

have a genuine choice, and they do not need to worry about wasted votes.

Simplicity — people can understand the voting system easily.

Proportionality — the share of a party’s seats in Parliament should reflect the

share of the vote that it received in the election.

Strong government — a majority allows governments to get things done.

Accountable government — the electorate is able to hold the government to

account based on their success or failure in implementing their manifesto.


Voting systems

Simple plurality

First-past-the-post (FPTP)

Majoritarian

Supplementary vote (SV)

Alternative vote (AV)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiHuiDD_oTk(This video shows an alternative view of AV.)

Proportional representation (PR)

Regional list

Single transferable vote (STV)

http://education.niassembly.gov.uk/post_16/how_do_we_elect_mlas/video

Hybrid system

Additional member system (AMS)

www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/scottish-parliamentary-elections-additional-member-system/3826.html

Remind yourself of each voting system, using your class notes and the video clip links below. Some questions will follow to test your understanding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiHuiDD_oTk



http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/scottish-parliamentary-elections-additional-member-system/3826.html




QuestionsVoting systems: key features

Which six voting systems are being described below and on the following slide?

a. The electorate vote for a party representative of a large multi-member regional

constituency. The party’s candidates are selected by the party on a closed list.

b. The candidate with the most votes wins the constituency seat.

c. The electorate vote for a constituency candidate using FPTP and a regional list

candidate using PR. Regional seats are allocated to parties using the d’Hondt

formula.

d. Candidates are ranked in order of preference and need an absolute majority to

win. If no candidate achieves this, the lowest ranked candidate’s votes are

reallocated according to second preferences. This continues until one candidate

has 50%+1 of the vote.


QuestionsVoting systems: key features (continued)

e. Electors have a first and second preference candidate. If no candidate achieves

an absolute majority, all but the top two candidates are removed from the race.

Any second preference votes from those who voted for the discarded candidates

are then added to the tally for each of the top two candidates and the winner is

determined.

f. Electors have a choice of party and individual candidate. Candidates are ranked

in order of preference and elected to large multi-member constituencies using

the Droop quota. Second preferences will be considered if the quota is not met,

by eliminating the lowest placed candidate and redistributing their votes. This

continues until all of the seats are filled.


AnswersVoting systems: key features

a. Regional list

b. First-past-the-post

c. Additional member system

d. Alternative vote

e. Supplementary vote

f. Single transferable vote



1. First-past-the-post

2. Supplementary vote

3. Alternative vote

4. Regional list

5. Single transferable vote

6. Additional member system

A. Northern Ireland and for Scottish local

elections

B. London mayoral elections (and other directly

elected mayors), police and crime

commissioners elections

C. Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and

London Assembly elections

D. UK Parliament, UK local elections

E. European Parliament elections (for whole of

UK excluding Northern Ireland)

F. Not used — was rejected as a system for UK

Parliament elections in a UK referendum in

2011

Where is each system currently used in the UK? Match up the systems below on the left with the type of elections on the right. The answers are on the next slide.


Answers: UK electoral systems

1. D

2. B

3. F

4. E

5. A

6. C


Activity: ballot papers

The following six slides show different ballot papers. To test your understanding,

work out which of the six voting systems below is represented by each type of

ballot paper.

1. First-past-the-post

2. Supplementary vote

3. Alternative vote

4. Regional list

5. Single transferable vote

6. Additional member system


Ballot paper AConservative Party Mr Bates

Conservative Party Ms Harvey

Conservative Party Mr Smith

Green Party Ms Chapman

Labour Party Ms Allington

Labour Party Mr Reed

Labour Party Ms Witherspoon

Liberal Democrats Mr Corvey

Liberal Democrats Ms Moxton

UKIP Mr Gibb

Write a number beside candidates in order of preference: 1 for your first choice, 2 for your second choice, 3 for your third choice, and so on.


Ballot paper B

Conservative Party Mr Bates




UKIP Mr Gibb

Put an X in the box next to your choice of candidate. Vote for one candidate only.


Ballot paper C

Regional member

Conservative Party

Green Party

Labour Party

Liberal Democrats

UKIP

You have two votes. Put one X next to your choice of regional member, and one X next to your choice of constituency member.

Constituency member

Mr Allsop (UKIP)

Ms Christie(Liberal Democrat)

Mr Halliday(Conservative)

Ms Norrington (Labour)

Ms Windcastle (Green)


Ballot paper D

First choice Second choice





UKIP Mr Gibb

Put one X next to your first choice of candidate and another X next to your second choice of candidate.


Ballot paper E





UKIP Mr Gibb

Write a number beside candidates in order of preference: 1 for your first choice, 2 for your second choice, 3 for your third choice, and so on.


Ballot paper F

Regional member

Conservative Party

Green Party

Labour Party

Liberal Democrats

UKIP

Put an X next to your choice of regional member.


Answers: ballot papers

Ballot paper A: Single transferable vote

Ballot paper B: First-past-the-post

Ballot paper C: Additional member system

Ballot paper D: Supplementary vote

Ballot paper E: Alternative vote

Ballot paper F: Regional list


Questions1. Why does FPTP produce governments that are highly accountable to the

electorate? (Tip: consider the ability of a government to win a majority and then

implement its manifesto fully.)

2. Why do many people fear that PR would produce weak and unaccountable

governments? (Tip: consider the problems that coalition governments face.)

3. Why do UKIP and the Greens do particularly well in elections to the European

Parliament?

4. How did AMS help the Scottish National Party (SNP) become a party of

government? (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Scotland for election

results.)

5. Why was it particularly impressive that the SNP won a majority in 2011? (Tip:

consider the AMS voting system.)

6. Why is STV particularly appropriate for Northern Ireland? (Tip: consider its

troubled history.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Scotland


Essay preparation

Now that you have revised electoral systems, it is time to develop your analysis of

each system. This is essential for you to be able to write a good essay.

Look back at each electoral system and consider the following.

1. How well does each one deliver the features of an ideal electoral system (e.g.

voter choice, constituency link, participation, simplicity, proportionality, strong

government, accountable government)?

2. Why is it impossible to have an ideal electoral system that delivers all of these

features?

3. Which of the features of an ideal electoral system do you think are the most

important, and why?

4. Which would be your preferred voting system, and why?

5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a range of different voting

systems in use across the UK?

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UK electoral systems Fotolia. UK electoral systems How to revise electoral systems In order to achieve high marks when answering a question on electoral