Democracy- Lesson 2 Different types of voting systems.

Starter Put the following parties in order of the % of the vote that they achieved in the last election Labour Plaid Cymru (Welsh National Party) Green Party BNP (British national party) Conservatives UK Independence Party Liberal Democrats Scottish National Party

2010 Election – % of Vote Conservatives – 36.1% Labour – 29.0% Liberal Democrats – 23.0% UK Independence Party – 3.1% BNP (British national party) – 1.9% Scottish National Party – 1.7% Green Party – 1.0% Plaid Cymru (Welsh National Party) – 0.6%

How do votes match Seats (MP’s) Conservatives – 36.1% = 307 MP’s Labour – 29.0% = 258 MP’s Liberal Democrats – 23.0% = 58 MP’s UK Independence Party – 3.1% = No MP’s BNP (British national party) – 1.9% = No MP’s Scottish National Party – 1.7% = 6 MP’s Green Party – 1.0% = 1 MP Plaid Cymru (Welsh National Party) – 0.6% = 3 MP’s

How the different voting systems work No electoral system is perfect some are more perfect than others.

First past the post (FPTP) : Used in General Elections How it works: Put one "X" next to a candidate. The one with the most votes wins. Advantage: easy to understand and voter can express view on which party should win election. Disadvantage: wastes millions of votes as those cast for loser, or for the winner above the level they need to win seat, count for nothing. Who wins: Conservatives and Labour Who loses: Lib Dems and minor parties

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Supplementary Vote: Use in London Mayoral contest How it works: mark an "X" in the first column for candidate of first choice and another in second column. If a candidate receives 50 per cent of the vote they are elected. However, if not then the votes for second choice are reallocated between the top two candidates. Advantage: it gives the voter more power because both first and second preference count. Disadvantage: does not ensure winner has the support of at least 50 per cent of electorate. Who wins: Lib Dems and Greens Who loses: Tories and Labour

Alternative Vote (AV), used in Australia and New Zealand How it works: Candidates ranked in order of preference. If no one receives more than 50 per cent the one with the least votes is eliminated and votes reallocated according to second choices until someone has 50 per cent. Advantage: MPs would have support of a majority of their local electorate. Prevent extremists succeeding. Disadvantage: prone to 'Donkey voting' as voters rank candidates without knowing enough about them. Who wins: Liberal Democrats plus Tories and Labour in some areas Who loses: the minor parties

AV Referendum _Alternative_Vote_referendum,_ _Alternative_Vote_referendum,_2011

Single Transferable Vote (STV), used in Northern Ireland How it works: preferential voting in multi-member constituency. Each voter gets one vote, which transfers from their first- preference to their second-preference. Candidates with least votes are eliminated and votes redistributed. Advantages: gives voters more choice than any other system. Disadvantages: can lead to massive constituencies, ballot papers can be more complex Who wins: candidates rather than party managers Who loses: party managers

D'Hondt system of Proportional Representation, European elections England, Wales and Scotland. How it works: closed party-list system in which votes are cast for parties not people. MPs ranking on the list decided by party managers not voters. Advantage: Lists ensure women and ethnic-minority groups are represented. Disadvantage: Closed party lists are impersonal, weakening any link between MP and regional area. Who wins: Minor parties such as the BNP Who loses: voters who have no choice of candidate, Tories and Labour, Regional Assemblies - Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, London Assembly

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International Agencies Commonwealth of Nations An association of nations consisting of the United Kingdom and several former British colonies that are now sovereign states but still pay allegiance to the British Crown European Union An international organization of European countries formed after World War II to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members. NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization, an international organization created in 1949 by the North Atlantic Treaty for purposes of collective security North Atlantic Treaty Organization United Nations an organization of independent states formed in 1945 to promote international peace and security