Electoral systems, simplified

There was a lot of confusion about electoral systems at a recent revision session. So here are the systems, but simplified.

Also, this link to the Electoral Reform Society gives scores for each system based on proportionality, voter choice and local representation. https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/voting-systems/types-of-voting-system/ 

Majoritarian

Proportional

First past the post 

Used for: Westminster elections, council elections

Advantages: creates a strong constituency link for local representation, more likely to result in majority governments, simple and easy to administer

Disadvantages: can often be disproportional, tends to create a 2 party system, unfair to smaller parties

Alternative Vote

Used for: very little? No UK elections use it, though obviously the 2011 referendum was about it. Labour Party leadership elections, hereditary peer replacement elections in the Lords.

How does it work: majoritarian system where everyone can rank candidates. If no-one wins 50% then you eliminate the bottom candidate and reallocate their lower preferences. 

Advantages: the idea is that you get a more popular overall winner, who is acceptable to a greater range of constituents, and you still get a strong chance of a majority government. Retains constituency link!

Disadvantages: it may not actually solve the issues it claims to solve! In 2015 the Conservatives may have actually done better with this. Why change to it if it isn't actually more proportional? Also, it has been rejected! Would everyone just put centrist parties as their 2nd choice?

Additional Member System

Used for: Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly elections

How does it work: There are a number of FPTP seats, but when that inevitably results in disproportionate results, a second vote is then counted and a number of 'top up' MPs are added to make it more proportional. 

Advantages: Best of both worlds? Constituency link AND proportionality. Has worked pretty well in Scotland and Wales, and is used in Germany and Italy.

Disadvantages: May make majority governments unlikely. Two classes of MPs (who do the second ones represent?).

Supplementary Vote

Used for: UK mayoral elections, most notably in London. This is being scrapped in the next round of mayoral elections. Many would believe that this is because the Conservatives tend to do poorly in their second preferences!

How does it work: A version of AV, but with only a second preference. Majoritarian.  

Advantages:  A bit fairer than first past the post. Gives greater legitimacy.

Disadvantages: Not really one thing or the other? Not as simple as FPTP, not as fair as AV or proportional systems.

Single Transferable Vote

Used for: Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland

How does it work: Whew, it's complicated. Ranked choice voting in multi-member constituency, to try to give more constituents a representative of their choosing.

Advantages: It's great for ensuring that communities in NI get a representative, where under FPTP a Catholic or Protestant with a representative from the other party would have be a problem. You get constituency MPs and a lot more proportionality.

Disadvantages: So very, very complicated.

Proportional Representation - List

Used for: Was used for European elections in the UK until departure in 2020. Used elsewhere, such as the Netherlands (DENK!).

How does it work: Everyone in an area votes - you get allocated a relatively proportional number of seats. Each party has a list, and you get a certain number of your candidates from it.

Advantages: Super fair to voters, and allows minor parties to have a share of the votes, including ethnic and religious minorities.

Disadvantages: Will always result in coalitions, you don't have specific local MP.