Advantages and Disadvantages of UK electoral systems

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Advantages of FPTP
strong link between MP and voters, keeps small extremist parties out, simple and easy to run and understand, produces strong single-party government
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Disadvantages of FPTP
large numbers of votes wasted, benefits concentrated support not broad support, encourages tactical voting, safe seats, hard to start a new party, keeps out smaller third parties, isn't proportional, votes don't equal seats
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Advantages of CPL
high degree of proportionality, every vote has the same value, simple for voters, could used to increase women/ethnic minorities
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Disadvantages of CPL
weak link between MP and votes, limited choice as there is no say over the MP
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Advantages of AMS
each voter has at least 1 effective vote, mostly proportional, allows voters to show personal support in the FPTP vote and party support in the List vote
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Disadvantages of AMS
complex, possibility that the List MP would be overshadowed by the personally chosen FPTP MP
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Advantages of STV
simple, no wasted votes, ensures wide spread representation in a very divided society, gives governments a strong mandate
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Disadvantages of STV
difficult to run ad the surplus calculation is complex, means long counting period and large expense, can lead to coalitions, requires very large constituencies, weak MP-constituency link
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Advantages of SV
simple for the voters to use, encourages positive campaigning
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Disadvantages of SV
many wasted votes, the winner does not necessarily have the support of over 50% of the electorate
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Advantages of AV
eliminates tactical voting, all MPs would have majority support, retain current constituencies, coalitions are no more likely than in FPTP
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Disadvantages of AV
promotes a central view point, doesn't stop two party dominance, prone to "donkey voting"
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

large numbers of votes wasted, benefits concentrated support not broad support, encourages tactical voting, safe seats, hard to start a new party, keeps out smaller third parties, isn't proportional, votes don't equal seats

Back

Disadvantages of FPTP

Card 3

Front

high degree of proportionality, every vote has the same value, simple for voters, could used to increase women/ethnic minorities

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

weak link between MP and votes, limited choice as there is no say over the MP

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

each voter has at least 1 effective vote, mostly proportional, allows voters to show personal support in the FPTP vote and party support in the List vote

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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