Electoral Systems
Different ways of voting in democracies
List of Systems
1) Single-Member Plurality
2) Preferential Ballot
3) Proportional Representation
4) Others (Recall, Initiative,
Referendum)
1) Single-member Plurality System
Also known as “first past the post” (FPTP) – can be
thought of as a “winner take all” race.
Candidate who receives the most votes wins that
constituency (geographical voting zone).
Does not need a simple majority of 50% plus 1
Example: One candidate in one constituency will
win with 30% of the vote while the remaining 70%
is split among other candidates.
Where is this system used? House of Commons
(UK and Canada) and Congress (USA)
Criticisms of FPTP
Punishes smaller political parties.
Example: the Green Party won 600,000 votes (4.3% of
national vote) in the 2004 Canadian election but won 0
seats in the House of Commons.
Can reward regional parties.
Example: the separatist Bloc Quebecois – which only
had candidates in Quebec – had 12.4% of overall
national votes but won 54 seats in the Commons.
Conclusion: the number of seats won in Parliament or
Congress does not always reflect the percentage of votes
cast for a political party.
“First Past the Post” results in
Edmonton, Alberta 2004-2011
How the USA elects Presidents
Indirect Election: If a President wins a simple majority
of 50% plus 1 in a state, all the electoral college voters
(individuals chosen by state legislatures) in that state
later vote for that President.
The number of electoral college voters is based on a
state’s population; the bigger the state’s population, the
more electoral college voters it has (California has 55,
Alaska has 3)
A President can win the Presidency without winning a
majority of the 50 states or without 50% plus 1 of the
national vote.
2000 Electoral College Results
Al Gore: 266 votes George W. Bush: 271 votes
Popular Vote for President in 2000
George W. Bush: 50,496,002 total votes
Al Gore: 50,999,897 total votes
Ralph Nader: 2,882,995 total votes
2008 Electoral College Results
Barack Obama: 365 votes John McCain: 173 votes
Popular Vote Results in 2008
Barack Obama: 69, 498,500 total votes
John McCain: 59, 948, 323 total votes
2) Preferential Ballot System
Voters list candidates on the ballot (voting) paper by
numbering them from most preferred to least
preferred. (ranking!)
If there is no clear majority, then the second or third
preferences are counted toward obtaining a majority
Example: Australia. Two right-wing parties have had a
clear advantage over the only left-wing party in recent
elections.
Voting in Australia
If Canada used this system in 2011…
3) Proportional Representation
The percentage (%) of votes received by a party
is reflected by the number of seats won in the
legislature.
Example: If a party wins only 30% of votes in a
national election, that party would only receive
30% of the seats in Parliament or Congress, etc.
Israel and Brazil use variations of this system, as
do many European countries such as Finland
and Sweden.
What are some weaknesses of
Proportional Representation?
Majority governments are rare; rather,
many smaller parties exist and likeminded political parties ally with each
other to form coalition governments.
Therefore: weaker governments, more
frequent elections, less stability
4) Other Systems
Recall: can be used to increase the accountability
of elected state or provincial politicians.
Used in 18 U.S. states and in B.C. in Canada
If enough people sign a petition, a recall and
therefore another election is triggered.
Example: In 2003, California Governor Gray
Davis was recalled and removed from office after
misleading voters about the state’s finances and
tax increases.
Initiative: a petition signed by citizens to
force a vote on a particular issue – also
called “propositions.”
Recent examples in the USA…
Proposition 8 in 2008; banned gay marriage
in California – supported by voters but
overturned by state and Supreme Courts.
Propositions to legalize marijuana in the
states of California, Washington and
Colorado have passed.
Proposition 8 in 2008
Referendum: a simple YES or NO question
about an important issue by the authority of the
legislature.
Examples:
The province of Quebec had two referendums to
separate from Canada in 1980 and 1995; both
failed to receive 50% + 1.
Euro currency: In 2000, Denmark rejected the
Euro 53% to 47%; in 2003, Swedish citizens
voted 56% to 42% against it.
Scotland: On 18 September 2014, Scotland will
vote to leave the UK.
1995 Quebec Referendum
If Quebec had separated…
Possible breakup of the UK