Welcome to the World of Electoral Systems!
Ever wondered why some parties get millions of votes but very few seats in Parliament? Or why voting for a Mayor feels different from voting in a General Election? That is all down to electoral systems—the "rules of the game" that turn your vote into a seat in government. Don't worry if this seems a bit technical at first; by the end of these notes, you’ll be an expert on how the UK decides who wins!
1. Different Electoral Systems in the UK
In the UK, we don't just use one system. Depending on where you live and what election is happening, the rules change. There are four main systems you need to know for your Pearson Edexcel Politics course.
A. First-Past-The-Post (FPTP)
Used for: UK General Elections (House of Commons).
How it works: The UK is split into 650 areas called constituencies. In each area, the candidate with the most votes wins. You don't need 50% of the vote; you just need one more vote than the person in second place. This is called a plurality system.
Analogy: Think of it like a horse race. The first horse to cross the line wins the whole prize, even if they only won by a nose!
B. Additional Member System (AMS)
Used for: Scottish Parliament and Welsh Parliament (Senedd).
How it works: This is a "hybrid" system. Voters get two votes: one for a local candidate (using FPTP) and one for a political party (using a proportional list). The party votes are used to "top up" the seats so the final result is fairer to smaller parties.
C. Single Transferable Vote (STV)
Used for: Northern Ireland Assembly.
How it works: This is a proportional system. Voters rank candidates in order of preference (1, 2, 3, etc.). To win, a candidate needs to reach a certain quota of votes. If your first choice is already a winner or has no chance, your vote "transfers" to your next choice.
Memory Aid: STV stands for Selecting Through Variety (ranking your favorites!).
The math for the quota is called the Droop Quota:
\( \text{Quota} = \left( \frac{\text{Total Votes Cast}}{\text{Number of Seats} + 1} \right) + 1 \)
D. Supplementary Vote (SV)
Used for: Mayoral Elections (e.g., Mayor of London).
How it works: Voters have two choices: a first preference and a second preference. If a candidate gets more than 50% of the first preferences, they win instantly. If not, the top two candidates go into a "runoff," and the second-preference votes from the eliminated candidates are added to their totals.
Quick Review:
• FPTP: Simple, winner takes all.
• AMS: Hybrid, two votes.
• STV: Proportional, ranking candidates.
• SV: Majoritarian, two preferences.
2. Advantages and Disadvantages
No system is perfect! Each has pros and cons that affect how our country is run.
Advantages of FPTP
• Strong and Stable Government: It usually gives one party a clear majority, making it easier to pass laws.
• Simple: It’s very easy to understand and quick to count.
• Extremist Parties: It makes it very hard for "extreme" parties to get seats because they don't have enough concentrated support.
Disadvantages of FPTP
• Disproportional: The number of seats a party gets often doesn't match the percentage of votes they got nationally.
• Wasted Votes: Any vote for a losing candidate, or extra votes for a winner, doesn't help elect anyone.
• Safe Seats: In many areas, the same party wins every time (a safe seat), making voters feel like their voice doesn't matter. In contrast, marginal seats are where the race is very close.
Why use Proportional Systems (AMS/STV)?
• Fairness: Parties get seats that roughly match their share of the vote.
• Voter Choice: You can vote for a small party without it being a "wasted vote."
• But... they often lead to coalition governments, where two or more parties have to share power. This can lead to arguments and slow decision-making.
Key Takeaway: FPTP values stability and simplicity, while proportional systems value fairness and representation.
3. Referendums and Their Use
A referendum is a single vote on a specific issue. Unlike a General Election where you choose a representative, here you are practicing direct democracy.
Major UK Referendums since 1997
• 1997: Devolution for Scotland and Wales (Led to the creation of their own parliaments).
• 2011: Alternative Vote (AV) Referendum (The UK voted No to changing the electoral system).
• 2014: Scottish Independence (Scotland voted No to leaving the UK).
• 2016: EU Referendum / Brexit (The UK voted Yes to leaving the European Union).
The Case FOR Referendums
• Legitimacy: On huge issues (like leaving the EU), a direct vote from the people gives the decision more authority.
• Education: They get the public talking and thinking about important political issues.
• Settling Issues: They can resolve long-standing arguments within political parties.
The Case AGAINST Referendums
• Undermines Parliament: In a representative democracy, we elect experts to make complex decisions for us.
• Emotional vs. Rational: Campaigns can sometimes focus on slogans and emotions rather than hard facts.
• Tyranny of the Majority: A 51% win can leave the other 49% feeling ignored and angry.
Did you know? Referendums in the UK are technically "advisory," meaning Parliament doesn't legally have to follow the result. However, politically, it would be almost impossible for them to ignore the "will of the people."
4. Electoral System Analysis: Impact on Government
The system we choose changes the type of government we get. This is a very important part of your exam!
A. Impact on the Type of Government
• Single-Party Government: Usually the result of FPTP. One party has all the power (e.g., Conservatives in 2019).
• Coalition Government: Two or more parties join together to form a majority (e.g., Conservative-Lib Dem coalition 2010-2015). More common under AMS or STV.
• Minority Government: A party governs without a majority, needing to win support for every single vote (e.g., Labour in the Scottish Parliament at times). This makes them very weak.
B. Impact on Party Representation
Under FPTP, parties with concentrated support (like the SNP in Scotland) do very well. Parties with spread out support (like the Green Party or Reform UK) do very poorly, even if millions of people vote for them across the country.
C. Impact on Voter Choice
• Tactical Voting: Under FPTP, people often vote for their "second favorite" candidate just to stop the candidate they hate from winning.
• Wasted Votes: This leads to voter apathy (people not bothering to vote) because they feel the result is already decided in safe seats.
Summary: Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Don't say that the winner of an FPTP election needs 50% of the vote. They only need a plurality (one more than second place).
• Don't confuse STV with SV. Remember: STV is for Northern Ireland (lots of rankings), SV is for Mayors (just two choices).
• Don't forget that the UK is a representative democracy, but referendums are an example of direct democracy being used within that system.
You've reached the end of the Electoral Systems chapter! Take a deep breath—you're doing great. Understanding these "rules of the game" is the key to unlocking the rest of UK Politics.