Additional Member System (AMS)

Voting Systems: Additional Member System (AMS)

• The purpose of the Additional Member System is to understand its features and outcomes.
• The key focus includes describing main features, outcomes, advantages, disadvantages, and reasons for not voting.

Understanding Key Terms

• FPTP means First Past the Post
• AMS means Additional Member System,
• PR means Proportional Representation
• STV means Single Transferable Votes

Where These Systems are Used

• FPTP is used in the UK's House of Commons.
• AMS is used in the Scottish Parliament.
• PR is used for elections to the European Council
• STV is used for Council elections in Scotland.

Key Features of AMS

• AMS involves the electorate casting two votes, with the Scottish Parliament using this system
• The first vote is for a local Member of Scottish Parliament (MSP) through the First Past the Post (FPTP) system.
• The second vote is for a regional MSP.
• One MSP represents a local area known as a constituency.
• Seven MSPs represent a Scottish region, resulting in a total of eight MSPs.

How Regional MSPs are Chosen

• The seven additional MSPs for a region are selected based on the number of votes cast in both votes.
• All votes are tallied, and the seven seats are proportionately allocated to parties, considering the percentage of votes received.
• The system aims to be fairer and more proportional, although some find it complex and confusing.

How FPTP Elects a Local MSP

• Scotland is divided into 73 constituencies for the first vote.
• MSPs are elected using the FPTP system
• A local link between parliament and the constituency is then maintained.
• The candidate with the most votes becomes the MSP for that area.

First Past The Post (explained)

• FPTP is the voting system used for General Elections in the UK for the House of Commons, located in Westminster.
• The UK is divided into 650 constituencies, where voters mark a cross against their preferred candidate.
• The candidate with the most votes in each constituency becomes the Member of Parliament.

Advantages of FPTP

• Simplicity for voters.
• Quick result process
• Voters are able to directly vote for a party/candidate
• It produces constituency MPs who represent a specific area.
• Enables a strong majority government

Disadvantages of FPTP

• Favors big parties (Labour and Conservative).
• Wasted votes for non-winning candidates.
• Doesn't accurately reflect voter views in parliament.
• Can elect minority governments.
• Parties may win many votes but few seats, and it disproportionately helps the winning party and can result in governments forcing unpopular law through parliament.

Key points from FPTP elections

• One needs to understand the ease of understanding who won the local election.
• Someone can win even if most people voted against them.

The Second Vote in AMS

• Scotland is divided into eight regions
• MSPs are elected using a "party list system".
• Voters pick a party and all votes are added.
• MSPs are appointed using a formula for a fairer result

Additional points for Scottish Parliament elections

• There are two votes
• One has regional members
• One has constituency members

Analyzing a Hypothetical Regional Vote

• The constituency results and total seats are calculated to divide the remaining seats
• seats are divided to make it as fair as possible
• 4/11 to one party making the others remaining 7 divided to match the overall % of vote share
• One party is likely to win most constituencies

Explaining "Features" vs "Outcomes" in Exam Questions

• Features of AMS concerns how does AMS work
• Outcomes of AMS refers to what are the end results of AMS"

Key Features of the Additional Member System

• Voters get two votes in the additional member system.
• There are two types of MSPs: constituency MSPs and regional MSPs.
• The result intends to be more proportional i.e the number of seats in parliament the parties get is much closer to the number of votes they get

Outcomes of the Additional Member System

• Coalition government is possible
• Minority government is possible
• It leads to fairer representation (2021 Con got around 23% of vote & 24% of Seats)

Constituency Vote

• One local MSP is elected for each constituency
• Elected MSP wins with a simple majority
  • Advantages:
    • Local MSP known to the area
    • Simple for people to understand the vote for this MSP
  • Disadvantage:
    • Result isn't fair as most people normally vote for another candidate

Regional Vote

• Seven additional MSPs are elected for each region
• A formula decides which parties additional MSPs come from, intending to be as close as possible to the total votes in that area per party
  • Advantages: -System is more proportional, so fairer -Voters get more choice
  • Disadvantages:
    • Very complicated to understand
    • Multiple MSPs is confusing

Advantages of AMS

• Parliament proportionally represents views of Scottish people.
• Link between constituent and constituency MSP is maintained
• Reduces confrontation and enables consensus in politics
• Increases voter choice through two votes.
• Provides fairer representation for parties

Disadvantages of AMS

• Confusion among voters on who to contact.
• May not produce a clear winner, leading to coalition or minority government.
• The system is complex, involving one vote for the person and another for the party.

Reasons for Not Voting

• Some people do not vote because they don’t feel represented
• Some people don’t vote because they don’t have to i.e in a democracy, people may choose not to vote
• Some people may not vote because they don’t understand how to vote