Political Science 1020E Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Plurality Voting System, Majoritarianism, Instant-Runoff Voting
4 Oct 2016
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Thursday, February 11, 2016
Lecture 12 - Electoral Systems
—EXAM STOPS AFTER THIS LECTURE—
majorities and proportional system - need to knows what makes them up. Do not need to know
defining details about how they are run and practiced
Varieties of Majoritarianism: Single Member Plurality
-Single Member Districts
-‘First Past the Post’ — a plurality of votes wins seats
FPTP in Debate
-PRO:
•Districts (ridings/constituencies) with own representatives — easy to contact, makes it far
more intimate geographically
•Strong and stable single-party governments. — if you want a government actually able to
accomplish things during their mandate, FPTP is great because they have substantial
control over the legislature and can pass things in legislature without a large amount of
debate (single party govs are a big thing in Canada, with majorities to push things through)
-CON:
•Disproportionate results
-Only need more votes than a competitor to win (could win with only 30% of the vote) - it
isn’t the popular vote, it’s the first past the post. Seats based on plurality are
disproportionate, which extends across the country
•Manufactures governing majorities
•“wasted” votes — voting for the green party means your votes go nowhere (FPTP doesn’t
reflect popular vote, ever… the majority can just keep their majority)
Majoritarianism: Second Ballot System
-First Round: Majority Winners Prevail
•Two rounds in the election, separated by 1/2 weeks.
-Second Round: Usually get a majority because:
•Only two candidates go forward
•Weaker ones out, the rest consolidate left-right
-PRO:
•Majorities enhances legitimacy
•Parties broaden base of support
-CON:
•Only a bit fairer to small parties (in round 1, vote for the one you like. In round 2, vote for
the one you want to win — don’t need as practical of a vote in the first round)
•Will people show up for round two of the election? (voter turnout is difficult)
Majoritarianism: Alternative Vote
-Votes rank single member district candidates
-If no majority, bottom candidate dropped, Voters’ second choices counted
-Repeat if necessary
-PRO:
•Avoids ‘wasted’ votes because people have the ability to “vote” for each one - their 2nd or
3rd preference could actually come into play
•So encourages participation (because people know their vote actually does something)
-CON:
•Not necessarily more proportional than FPTP
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find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Exam stops after this lecture majorities and proportional system - need to knows what makes them up. Do not need to know de ning details about how they are run and practiced. First past the post" a plurality of votes wins seats. Pro: districts (ridings/constituencies) with own representatives easy to contact, makes it far more intimate geographically, strong and stable single-party governments. Only need more votes than a competitor to win (could win with only 30% of the vote) - it isn"t the popular vote, it"s the rst past the post. First round: majority winners prevail: two rounds in the election, separated by 1/2 weeks. Second round: usually get a majority because: only two candidates go forward, weaker ones out, the rest consolidate left-right. Pro: majorities enhances legitimacy, parties broaden base of support. Con: only a bit fairer to small parties (in round 1, vote for the one you like.
