VOTING SYSTEMS – PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

What is Proportional Representation? • All PR systems work on the basis that

the number of seats won by a party should (roughly) be in proportion to the number of votes they have gained.

• There are different PR systems that are used in different elections.

ADDITIONAL MEMBERS SYSTEMAMS is an attempt to bring FPTP and PR together.

Constituency MSP’s are elected using FPTP whilst Regional MSP’s are elected using party list.

73 Constituencie

s. Vote once for a candidate - person with

the most votes wins (FPTP).

8 Regions which elect 7 MSPs.

Vote for a Party. 7 MSPs are

elected by the proportion of

votes that their party has won (Party List).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/

2007 ELECTION RESULTS

2011 ELECTION RESULTS Political Party Constituency

MSPsRegional

MSPs Total MSPs % of votes* % of seats

Conservative 3 12 15

Green 0 2 2

Labour 15 22 37

Liberal Democrats 2 3 5

Scottish National Party 53 16 69

Others 0 1 1

PR systems usually

result in the party with the most

seats having under 50% .

2011 was the first time a party won

with a majority.

Single Transferable Vote Voters choose their

candidates and parties in order of preference.

A fair percentage, or quota, for a candidate to be elected is worked out.

First preferences are calculated to see if the quota has been reached, second preferences are then worked out and added to the first preferences and so on until the seats have been filled.http://www.bbc.co.uk

Party List (national/regional list) Each party draws up a list of candidates which

are ranked in order of the party’s preference. Voters cast a vote for a party rather than a

candidate. If a party received 20% of the vote the top 20% of

the party candidates will become representatives.

Advantages and Disadvantages of PR systems1. In groups of 3 each take one of the PR systems. 2. Using the handouts write down the advantages and

disadvantages of your system. 3. Try to come up with some recent examples to

report back to your group. Advantages

Disadvantages

Examples

Additional Members SystemSingle Transferable VoteParty List