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Summary
Summary
Electoral systems are rules that determine the outcome of an election. They are seen prominently in the political setting and are used during elections for political leaders (i.e. Member of Parliament).
Electoral systems are rules that determine the outcome of an election. They are seen prominently in the political setting and are used during elections for political leaders (i.e. Member of Parliament).
Electoral Systems decide things such as:
Electoral Systems decide things such as:
Who can vote
Who can be a candidate
How many candidates there can be
How many winners will there be
There are many different types of electoral systems, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.
There are many different types of electoral systems, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.
Types of Electoral Systems
Types of Electoral Systems
First-Past-the-Post
First-Past-the-Post
Also known as FPTP, this electoral system allows voters to cast a single ballot for a candidate. The candidate that receives the most votes will win.
Also known as FPTP, this electoral system allows voters to cast a single ballot for a candidate. The candidate that receives the most votes will win.
Advantages:
Advantages:
It is simple - most voted candidate will win
Strong government power - the winner will have all the power
Disadvantages:
Disadvantages:
Could lead to majority of voters being unhappy (i.e. Candidate A gets 40% of votes, Candidate B, C, and D get 20% each, 60% of population is unhappy)
Voters who voted for a candidate who lost will not be able to be represented
Canada employs the FPTP electoral system
Proportional Representation
Proportional Representation
Also known as PR, in a situation where there is a "seat" system (seats in parliament, etc.), running parties get seats proportional to the vote they receive (i.e. Party A gets voted by 30% of people, Party A gets 30% of seats).
Also known as PR, in a situation where there is a "seat" system (seats in parliament, etc.), running parties get seats proportional to the vote they receive (i.e. Party A gets voted by 30% of people, Party A gets 30% of seats).
Advantages:
Advantages:
Representation is more fair as the seats in a party will reflect the share of votes
Allows for more parties to influence the government, including smaller parties
All votes will have an impact on the government
Disadvantages:
Disadvantages:
The government would have a bigger variety of viewpoints, which means that decisions will take longer
Can allow for extremists to influence the government
Mixed-Member Proportional
Mixed-Member Proportional
Also known as MMP, this electoral system combines the FPTP and PR systems. Voters will have two votes: one for a local representative and one for a party. A portion of the seats will be taken up by the representatives, and the rest will be proportional with the parties that are voted.
Also known as MMP, this electoral system combines the FPTP and PR systems. Voters will have two votes: one for a local representative and one for a party. A portion of the seats will be taken up by the representatives, and the rest will be proportional with the parties that are voted.
Advantages:
Advantages:
Allows for local representation and representation proportional to the entire population
"Best of both worlds"
Disadvantages:
Disadvantages:
More complex and can confuse voters, with more confusing methods to calculate the proportions
The government would have the variety of viewpoints, similar to PR, and lack decisiveness
Single Transferable Vote
Single Transferable Vote
Also known as STV, in this system, voters are able to rank the candidates in an order of preference. In order to win a seat, the candidate must reach a certain quota of votes, and if they have reached their quota, the extra votes go to the voters' second choices. If no one meets the quota, then the votes for the least popular candidate get redistributed to the others based on the voters' second options.
Also known as STV, in this system, voters are able to rank the candidates in an order of preference. In order to win a seat, the candidate must reach a certain quota of votes, and if they have reached their quota, the extra votes go to the voters' second choices. If no one meets the quota, then the votes for the least popular candidate get redistributed to the others based on the voters' second options.
Advantages:
Advantages:
Voters have more flexibility to choose their representatives
STV also results in proportional representation
Many votes will be impactful due to the ability of the votes to be transferred
Disadvantages:
Disadvantages:
One of the most complex systems which can confuse voters and election officials
There will be a long process to calculate the votes
Limits of Electoral Systems
Limits of Electoral Systems
Possible Legal Barriers
Possible Legal Barriers
Strict voter ID laws
Strict non-automatic voter registration
Strict ballot-tampering security
Strict mail-in/absentee ballot security
Felon disenfranchisement
Fear of arrest or deportation
Not having (proof of) a permanent address
Homeless
Indigenous communities on reserves
Students away from home
Possibles Access Barriers
Possibles Access Barriers
Single-language campaigns + ballots
Confusing instructions
Unreliable mail service
No time off work/nobody to watch the children
Not physically accessible for the disabled
Only accessibly by car
Too far
Traffic makes people late
Not accessibly by transit/walk
Causes of Voter Apathy
Causes of Voter Apathy
Doesn't matter/unrepresented/low effort
Mis-, dis- information/propaganda/uneducated
Voting is too difficult
People don't care!!!
No policies that affect them, no engagement with political system, no feelings for government
Very common amongst young people (18-24)
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