What do students need to know about Electoral Systems?

This introductory discussion should also include a basic working definition of the term ‘electoral system’: a mechanism by which popular votes are translated into seats in a legislature or a means by which a candidate is selected to fill a particular office (eg Mayor of London).

Candidates need to be aware of the main types of electoral systems; majoritarian, proportional and hybrid (mixed). They should be able to offer clear and concise definitions of each of these broad types and demonstrate a clear understanding of their characteristics.

There should be an awareness of the various systems currently in use in elections in different parts of the UK.

The Specification makes specific reference to three electoral systems: First-Past-the-Post (simple plurality); the Additional Members System (AMS); and the Single Transferable Vote system (STV). Candidates need to have a clear understanding of how these systems work, both in theory (eg how the adoption of STV in general elections might affect outcomes) and in practice (eg the impact of the use of STV in a range of elections in Northern Ireland).

Though a detailed understanding of the Droop and D’Hondt formulas is not required, candidates should be aware of the way in which the quota operates under STV, as well as the way in which the top-up element of the AMS system used in Scotland and Wales compensates those parties who have been disadvantaged in the constituency contests operating under First-Past-the-Post.

It would be helpful to frame any evaluation of these systems in terms of those outcomes which might be desirable, eg: proportionality; stable government; voter choice; and the MP constituency link. Such an analytical framework should make evaluating the merits and demerits of each system a good deal easier. Candidates should avoid simplistic and overly

generalised conclusions. For example, when dealing with the likelihood of single party majority government or coalition government under a given system candidates should avoid simply labelling the former as ‘good’ and the latter as ‘bad’, without offering a developed explanation of such a judgement supported by evidence. Better responses will recognise that coalition governments can bring advantages as well as disadvantages, as can strong, single party majority governments.

Candidates will be expected to have detailed evidence with which to back up their assessments of the three systems named, eg statistics from the 2007 elections to the Scottish Parliament. The better responses will be characterised by their developed use of subject specific vocabulary e.g. popular vote, wasted votes, marginal constituencies, etc.

Although there is no explicit requirement for candidates to develop a detailed understanding of the workings of other UK electoral systems (eg Supplementary Vote, Party List), they will need to be able to classify such systems as part of their general understanding of majoritarian and proportional systems. An understanding of the list system and its merits/demerits is also implicit in any understanding of how AMS operates. Candidates should therefore be aware of different types of list systems (regional/national, open/closed) as well as other relevant terms, eg threshold.

Candidates should be aware of the main arguments advanced for and against electoral reform in the UK. They should be aware of recent recommendations (eg the Jenkins Report) and be able to explain why it is that UK general elections still operate under FPTP when other UK-based elections now take place under alternative systems.