3.1.2 Pros and Cons of FPTP, AMS, STV, and SV Systems

Advantages of First-Past-The-Post (FPTP)

Simplicity

• FPTP is straightforward for voters to understand and for officials to administer. Voters mark an 'X' next to their preferred candidate, and the candidate with the most votes wins.

Strong and Stable Government

• FPTP often leads to single-party majority governments, which can enact policies and make decisions without the need for coalition compromises.

Direct Representation

• Each constituency elects one MP, ensuring a direct link between constituents and their representative. This can enhance accountability and local representation.
• Example: MP surgeries and local issues. Constituents can directly contact their MP to raise concerns or seek assistance.

Exclusion of Extremist Parties

• FPTP tends to exclude smaller and extremist parties from gaining significant representation, as they struggle to win individual constituencies.

Clear Outcomes

• Election results are usually clear and quick to determine, providing immediate outcomes without prolonged coalition negotiations.

Disadvantages of First-Past-The-Post (FPTP)

Disproportionality

• FPTP can lead to significant disparities between the percentage of votes received and the percentage of seats won by parties, often benefiting larger parties and disadvantaging smaller ones.

Wasted Votes

• Votes for losing candidates, and excess votes for winning candidates, do not contribute to the overall result, leading to a high number of 'wasted' votes.

Minority Rule

• It is possible for a party to win a majority of seats without a majority of the popular vote, resulting in 'minority rule.'

Regional Imbalances

• FPTP can exacerbate regional disparities, with parties dominating certain areas and being underrepresented in others, leading to uneven representation.

Limited Voter Choice

• Voters may feel compelled to vote tactically rather than for their preferred candidate, to prevent their least preferred candidate from winning.

Summary

First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) is the electoral system used for UK General Elections. It offers simplicity, direct representation, and typically results in strong, stable governments. However, it also suffers from issues like disproportionality, wasted votes, and regional imbalances, which can undermine the fairness and representative nature of elections. Understanding these advantages and disadvantages is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness and democratic nature of FPTP as an electoral system.

Additional Member System (AMS)

Advantages

Proportionality

• AMS combines the FPTP system with a proportional representation component. This ensures that while some seats are filled by constituency winners, others are allocated to reflect the overall vote share, leading to a more proportional outcome.

Voter Choice

• Voters have two votes: one for a candidate in their constituency and one for a party in the regional list. This allows them to support a preferred local candidate and a different party if they choose.

Balancing Representation

• It helps smaller parties gain representation without entirely disadvantaging larger parties. This can result in a more balanced and representative parliament.

Coalition Governments

• AMS often results in coalition governments, which can lead to more consensual politics and policies that reflect a broader spectrum of public opinion.

Disadvantages

Complexity

• The dual voting system can be confusing for voters, leading to spoiled ballots or misinterpretation of how their vote will be counted.

Two Classes of Representatives

• There can be tensions between constituency representatives and regional list members, with the latter often seen as having less legitimacy.

Possibility of Overhang Seats

• Overhang seats occur when a party wins more constituency seats than it would be entitled to based on its proportion of the vote, complicating the proportionality.

Potential for Tactical Voting

• Voters might engage in tactical voting, using their constituency vote for one party and their regional vote for another to maximize their preferred outcomes.

Single Transferable Vote (STV)

Advantages

Proportional Representation

• STV ensures that seats are allocated in proportion to the number of votes received, reducing the discrepancy between the percentage of votes and the percentage of seats.

Voter Choice

• Voters can rank candidates in order of preference, which allows for a greater expression of voter choice and reduces the need for tactical voting.

Reduction in Wasted Votes

• Since voters can transfer their votes, fewer votes are wasted, and more voters feel represented.

Encourages Broad Appeal

• Candidates need a broad base of support to gain transfers from other candidates, which encourages them to appeal to a wider range of voters.

Disadvantages

Complexity

• The process of ranking candidates and the subsequent vote counting is complex and can be difficult for voters to understand.

Long Counting Process

• The vote counting process can be lengthy and complex, delaying the final results.

Potential for Donkey Voting

• Some voters might simply rank candidates in the order they appear on the ballot (donkey voting), which can distort the true preference of the electorate.

Intra-Party Competition

• STV can lead to significant competition within parties, as candidates from the same party vie for votes, potentially leading to internal divisions.

Supplementary Vote (SV)

Advantages

• Winner Claims an Overall Majority: Ensures that the winning candidate has broad support.
• Simple for Voters: Easy to understand and straightforward to use.
• Expression of Support: Voters can express strong support for their preferred candidate.

Disadvantages

• Promotes Two-Party System: Often excludes third parties from winning seats more than FPTP.
• Excludes Smaller Parties: Third parties are less likely to win seats compared to FPTP.

Additional Information

Jenkins Commission

• Jenkins Commission: Proposed the use of AV+ instead of FPTP. However, these proposals had little support and were rejected.

AMS and English Parties

• AMS was adopted in the Scottish Parliament to prevent English