Electoral Systems

How it works:

• a Pluritary system 
• each voter recieves one vote
• who ever wins the most votes wins ( doesn't matter about a majority) 
• the number of votes won reflects the number of seats won ( won 55% of the votes = 55% of the seats 

Advantages: 

• Produces an outright majority (usually-2010 coalition) 
• reflects the publics opinion 
• provides constituencies 

Disadvantages:

• Many seats are considered to be 'safe seats'- one party usually dominate the seat
• 'safe seats' means the outcome is often inevitable, and there are many 'wasted votes' 
• smaller parties are disadvantages, the two main parties always in power
• The two main parties tend to exaggerate the vote, if they win 45%of the vote they often recieve a higher % of the seats 
• Lib Dems disadvantaged, because in 2005 they recieved 22% of the vote and only recieved 9.4% of the seats

Where its is used: 

British General Elections 

How it works:

• Each party draws up a list, with their most favoured candidates at the top
• the electorate then choose from the list of candidates, they vote for a party not an individual 
• the proportion of votes = the proportion of candidates elected ( 30% of the total vote = 30% of the top of the list is elected 
• No consituences
• proportional system 

Advantages:

• Produces an essembly reflecting party support exactly
• there are no wasted votes 
• allows to be socially representative and for every vote to count 

Disadvantages:

• usually leads to a coalition, almost immposible to win an outright majority 
• few small parties can win seats 
• the electorate have no choice in which individuals/candidiates are choosen 
• the electorate are left with no constituencies 

Where it is used: Israel