It is a plurality
system so you
only have to get
more votes than
everyone else
Helps maintain
a 2 party
system
Produces
clear results
with
majorities
and
mandates
Allows
swings
from
one
party
to
another
-
landslide
effect
There is
a link
between
votes
cast
and
seats
gained
called
disproportionality
Many
votes
are safe
seats
and it all
comes
down to
marginal
seats
A party can get a lot of votes but no seats (UKIP, Green 2015)
The Alternative Vote
1) Voters rank
all candidates in
order of
preference
2) First
preferences are
all counted and
if no one has a
50% majority
the bottom
candidate
drops out and
votes are
redistributed
3) This
goes on
until one
candidate
has
50%
of
the
votes
AV ensures fewer wasted votes
You can win of redistributed votes
making you least unpopular candidate
Favours larger parties
Supplementary Vote
To win you
must get 50%
of the vote
Voters have a
first and
second
preference
If the first
preferences don't
give a win. All
candidates but
top 2 drop out
Their second preferences are
then redistributed to the
remaining two candidates to
bring about a result
SV is simpler than AV and is easy to understand
Could discourage small parties in favour of tactical voting
Regional Party List
Country is divided into large constituencies
with lists of candidates provided by political
parties
The parties rank their own candidates in order
of their own preference. Voters vote for parties
and seats are allocated off the list in direct
proportion to votes cast
It is fair to all parties regardless of their size and popularity
A lot of small parties could lead a very unstable government
Single Transferrable Vote
Large constituencies with up to 7 seats each
Each party can have 7 candidates
Seats allocated on a quote and extra
votes go to other preferences
Capable of achieving highly proportional outcomes
Can vary hugely based on the basis of the party system
Additional Member System
Voters, have two votes - "one plus one"
First votes are cast in single member constituencies in the
traditional way, but the second vote is counted seperately
towards a party list
Two types of representative are
elected - one from local
constituency and others
nominated by political parties,
according to the "plus one" vote
cast
Balances the need for constituency representation against the need for electoral fairness
The retention of single-member constituencies reduces likelihood of high levels of proportionality