Majority Electoral Systems

Majority Electoral Systems

First Past The Post

• Almost all elections carried out in the UK prior to 1997 were FPTP
• Still used today in general elections and westminster elections
• Used in local government elections too
• Voters only have one vote and cannot rank candidates in order of preference
• Constituencies are single member constituencies
• Each represented by one MP
• However in some local elections, some wards have 3 members
• Winner does not need to achieve absolute majority
• Needs a 'plurality' or a simple majority which means one more vote than the runner up party
• It is common for an MP to be elected on less than 40% of the vote
• 646 constituencies

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