POLI 200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Single Transferable Vote, Plurality Voting System, Electoral District

• School: McGill University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLI 200
• Professor: Manuel Balan

Document Summary

Electoral reform: which party would bene t most? ric grenier. Electoral system: set of rules governing conversation votes into seats. > smp: first past the post, alternative vote, two round systems. > pr: list systems, mixed systems, single transferable vote (very complex) Many countries elect some using smp, others pr - almost as may electoral systems as countries. > simplicity: easy to understand, clear cut choices, easy to count. > accountability: people know who their representatives are. > governability: helps build majorities, makes clear who is gvt and who is opposition. > fairness: avoids unfair results of smp, avoids winner busts. > representation: provides a better representation of interests in society, facilitates minority parties" access. > encourages parties to campaign beyond their districts. > can provide stability to policy and makes power sharing more visible (because of coalition) > parties in power, elected through existing system. > little incentive for change, and if there is change, instrumental and strategic.