3.1.1 FPTP, AMS, STV, and SV Voting Systems

Functions of Electoral Systems

There are different types of electoral systems, such as FPTP, STV, SV, and AMS:

• FPTP: The person with the highest number of votes is elected.
• AMS: Voters make two choices. The first is through FPTP and the second is another representative.
• STV: Voters rank their preferences.

First Past the Post (FPTP)

The First-Past-The-Post system is used for UK general elections. Under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011, these elections are held every five years.

How it Works

At Constituency Level

• The UK is divided into 650 constituencies, each representing approximately 70,000 people.
• Each constituency elects one MP to the House of Commons.
• Voters cast a single ballot, marking an 'X' next to their chosen candidate. The candidate with the most votes wins the seat and represents the constituency.

At National Level

• MPs from each constituency form the House of Commons.
• A party needs at least 326 out of 650 seats to hold a majority and form a government.
• In the absence of a majority, parties may form coalitions or a minority government.

The Effects of Using FPTP

Two-Party System

FPTP tends to favor larger parties with broad geographic support, leading to a two-party dominance, primarily benefiting Labour and the Conservatives. Smaller parties often struggle to gain proportional representation.

Winner's Bonus: FPTP often results in the winning party receiving a higher percentage of seats than votes. For example, in the 2019 election, the Conservative Party secured 43.6% of the vote but 56.2% of the seats.

Strong, Single-Party Government

Typically, FPTP yields a single-party majority government in the UK House of Commons. This has been evident in recent general elections (2010, 2015, 2017), though with variations.

Coalition vs. Confidence and Supply

Coalition	Confidence and Supply
A formal agreement between two or more parties forming the government.	A more informal agreement between the governing party and one or more other parties.
Results in joint policy creation and shared governmental roles.	Results in support for specific issues in exchange for agreed-upon policies.
The government includes members from all coalition parties.	The government is formed solely by members of the dominant party.

Safe and Swing Seats

FPTP creates safe seats, where a party has strong support, almost guaranteeing victory. Conversely, marginal or swing seats are competitive and often determine the election outcome.

Recent Examples:

Additional Member System (AMS)

How it Works

• Two Votes: Voters have two votes; one for a constituency representative (local MSP) and one for a regional representative.
• Constituency Vote: The first vote works like FPTP.
• Regional Vote: The second vote is proportional. Regions are divided into multi-member constituencies, and seats are allocated using the D'Hondt formula.

Effects of Using AMS

• Proportional Representation: AMS promotes a more proportional outcome, helping smaller parties gain seats.
• Coalition Governments: Often leads to coalition or minority governments due to the difficulty of achieving an outright majority.

Single Transferable Vote (STV)

How it Works

• Preference Voting: Voters rank candidates in order of preference.
• Multi-Member Constituencies: Northern Ireland is divided into 18 constituencies, each electing six representatives.
• Droop Quota: Candidates must achieve a set quota of votes to be elected. Excess votes and those from eliminated candidates are transferred according to preferences.

Effects of Using STV

• Proportional Outcomes: Ensures fairer representation of smaller parties and independents.
• Coalition Governments: Often results in coalition governments, reflecting the diverse political landscape. Recent Examples: