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Is First-Past-The-Post Fair?

Is First-Past-The-Post Fair?. You can be elected with less than 50% of the votes. Parties can win lots of seats with a very small majority. There are no prizes for second place. Winner!!. Votes are wasted.

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Is First-Past-The-Post Fair?

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  1. Is First-Past-The-Post Fair?

  2. You can be elected with less than 50% of the votes

  3. Parties can win lots of seats with a very small majority. There are no prizes for second place Winner!!

  4. Votes are wasted Votes cast for smaller parties in constituencies with a large majority are effectively wasted. Over 27,000 votes are effectively wasted in this constituency.

  5. The number of seats in the House of Commons is not in line with the % of votes received 2005 Election Results Seats Votes Labour 356 (55.1%) 35.3% Conservatives 198 (30.7%) 32.4% Lib Dems 62 (9.6%) 22.1% SNP 6 (0.9%) 1.5% Labour won the election and formed the Government – notice they had more than 50% of the seats!

  6. Most governments have more people voting against them than for them – democratic? 2010 Election Results Seats Votes Conservatives 307 36.1% Labour 258 29% Lib Dems 57 23% DUP 8 0.6% SNP 6 1.7% The Conservatives only got 36.1% of the votes so 63.9% of votes were cast against the Conservatives!

  7. A party can come second in a number of constituencies but potentially get no seats Constituencies must be won before a party wins a ‘seat’ and therefore representation in Parliament

  8. Fair and easy system for voters to understand The candidate/party with the most votes wins – they have received more votes than any other party! 2010 Election Results Seats Votes Conservatives 307 36.1% Labour 258 29% Lib Dems 57 23% DUP 8 0.6% SNP 6 1.7%

  9. Simple to operate and quick result You put an X next to the candidate you want to represent your area (constituency). Results can be counted quickly and declared!

  10. The vote is cast for a person/party and they will be represent that constituency You know exactly who you are voting for

  11. It avoids coalitions – where two parties have to work together to have a majority in parliament Nobody voted for a coalition – democracy? Labour - 46 SNP - 47 Scottish Parliament Election Results (2007) Lib Dems -15 Independents - 1 Tories - 18 Greens - 2

  12. Usually one party gains a majority This creates a strong Government and they can be judged on the decisions they make – not a coalition

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