UK Voting Systems
and Referendums
Key definitions:
Majoritarian system: is one in which the candidate or party that receives most votes wins.
Proportional Representation (PR): is an electoral system designed to allocate seats in a
legislature in proportion to the number of votes each party receives.
Coalition government: Where multiple parties collaborate to form a government.
Minority government: One that does not have a parliamentary majority and relies on the
support of others.
Safe seat: One consistently won by the same party, opposite of a swing seat.
Referendum: Form of Direct Democracy in which the people make decisions.
, ~ VOTING SYSTEMS ~
System Definition Is it PR Where it's used 3 Positives 3 Negatives
First Past First-past-the-post (FPTP) is an electoral system where the NO • The House of Commons Strong government Wasted votes
candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins the (General election) Most of the time provides a majority [Tory 25% more wasted than in Ireland
The Post election. • Mayoral elections in England 2020] Many MPs are elected without winning an
Failure to win in this way can lead to no majority and • Police and Crime Reduce chance of extremism overall majority
normally a coalition or weak minority will be held. Commissioner elections and Reform UK in 2024 Labour 2024
local councils in England and Constituency Representation Votes are not of equal weighting
Wales Accountability between constituents and
representative
SV The Supplementary Vote (SV) is a preferential voting system in which NO • Used until 2023 to elect Mayors Promotes Majority Support in elections Like FPTP, there is still a risk of tactical
The electorate vote for their two favourite candidates. A winning and Police and Crime Increases legitimacy voting.
candidate must receive Commissioners in the UK Simplifies the voting system, voters only This means there are still wasted votes
50% of the vote; they may achieve this in the first round outright or
mark a first and second choice making it harming the democratic process.
do so where second preference votes are reallocated to the top two
candidates. easier to understand. Not entirely preferential as there is a lack of
ordering only two votes.
AMS AMS is a mixed electoral system that combines FPTP and PR. YES • Used to elect Scottish and Increases proportionality giving greater One of the most complicated systems.
Voters cast two votes—one a local constituency (FPTP) and another Welsh Parliaments and the access to power for minor parties. Voters must understand how both systems
for a party list in a larger, multi-member region (PR). (Second London Assembly. work to be effective.
The second PR vote is used to allocate additional seats to parties
based on their share of the vote, aiming to make the overall seat
Part Only) • Many choose not to use this as Maintains candidate-constituency Regional lists candidates are often chosen
distribution more proportional. it is not fully proportional or relationship ensuring representative by parties therefore reducing the influence
majoritarian, and it has a level democracy runs smoothly. of voters. E.g. Scottish list candidates are
of complexity unlike others. less accountable to voters.
Two tier representation. List MP’s may be
deemed as less accountable and therefore
less effective.
STV STV is a proportional representation voting system used in multi- YES • Elections for Deputy Speakers Most proportional system ensuring that Complex. The process of ranking confuses
member constituencies. Voters rank candidates in order of in the House of Commons the public in lost circumstances gets what voters.
preference. The votes are counted with successful candidate they voted for. Weak constituency links as common with
required to meet a quote (required number of votes) before being
• Northern Ireland Assembly proportional systems.
elected.
If a candidate exceeds the quota, their surplus votes are transferred elections Ranking allows for preferences between
to other candidates based on voters' next preferences. If no parties creating a lack of division between Wasted votes as ballot preferences may be
candidate meets the quota, the candidate with the fewest votes is • Local elections in Scotland and minor and mainstream as in Scottish local knocked out early on reducing influence of
eliminated, and their votes are transferred. The distribution of votes Northern Ireland elections. some voters.
continues until all seats are filled proportional
and Referendums
Key definitions:
Majoritarian system: is one in which the candidate or party that receives most votes wins.
Proportional Representation (PR): is an electoral system designed to allocate seats in a
legislature in proportion to the number of votes each party receives.
Coalition government: Where multiple parties collaborate to form a government.
Minority government: One that does not have a parliamentary majority and relies on the
support of others.
Safe seat: One consistently won by the same party, opposite of a swing seat.
Referendum: Form of Direct Democracy in which the people make decisions.
, ~ VOTING SYSTEMS ~
System Definition Is it PR Where it's used 3 Positives 3 Negatives
First Past First-past-the-post (FPTP) is an electoral system where the NO • The House of Commons Strong government Wasted votes
candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins the (General election) Most of the time provides a majority [Tory 25% more wasted than in Ireland
The Post election. • Mayoral elections in England 2020] Many MPs are elected without winning an
Failure to win in this way can lead to no majority and • Police and Crime Reduce chance of extremism overall majority
normally a coalition or weak minority will be held. Commissioner elections and Reform UK in 2024 Labour 2024
local councils in England and Constituency Representation Votes are not of equal weighting
Wales Accountability between constituents and
representative
SV The Supplementary Vote (SV) is a preferential voting system in which NO • Used until 2023 to elect Mayors Promotes Majority Support in elections Like FPTP, there is still a risk of tactical
The electorate vote for their two favourite candidates. A winning and Police and Crime Increases legitimacy voting.
candidate must receive Commissioners in the UK Simplifies the voting system, voters only This means there are still wasted votes
50% of the vote; they may achieve this in the first round outright or
mark a first and second choice making it harming the democratic process.
do so where second preference votes are reallocated to the top two
candidates. easier to understand. Not entirely preferential as there is a lack of
ordering only two votes.
AMS AMS is a mixed electoral system that combines FPTP and PR. YES • Used to elect Scottish and Increases proportionality giving greater One of the most complicated systems.
Voters cast two votes—one a local constituency (FPTP) and another Welsh Parliaments and the access to power for minor parties. Voters must understand how both systems
for a party list in a larger, multi-member region (PR). (Second London Assembly. work to be effective.
The second PR vote is used to allocate additional seats to parties
based on their share of the vote, aiming to make the overall seat
Part Only) • Many choose not to use this as Maintains candidate-constituency Regional lists candidates are often chosen
distribution more proportional. it is not fully proportional or relationship ensuring representative by parties therefore reducing the influence
majoritarian, and it has a level democracy runs smoothly. of voters. E.g. Scottish list candidates are
of complexity unlike others. less accountable to voters.
Two tier representation. List MP’s may be
deemed as less accountable and therefore
less effective.
STV STV is a proportional representation voting system used in multi- YES • Elections for Deputy Speakers Most proportional system ensuring that Complex. The process of ranking confuses
member constituencies. Voters rank candidates in order of in the House of Commons the public in lost circumstances gets what voters.
preference. The votes are counted with successful candidate they voted for. Weak constituency links as common with
required to meet a quote (required number of votes) before being
• Northern Ireland Assembly proportional systems.
elected.
If a candidate exceeds the quota, their surplus votes are transferred elections Ranking allows for preferences between
to other candidates based on voters' next preferences. If no parties creating a lack of division between Wasted votes as ballot preferences may be
candidate meets the quota, the candidate with the fewest votes is • Local elections in Scotland and minor and mainstream as in Scottish local knocked out early on reducing influence of
eliminated, and their votes are transferred. The distribution of votes Northern Ireland elections. some voters.
continues until all seats are filled proportional
