elections

elections

how can elections be made more democratic?/ electoral systems be improved/ which system is better? etc.
1. 1. compulsory voting should be abolished in countries where it exists eg Australia
  1. bc: a) legitimate not to care about pol or elections b) can be protest c) outcome can be altered by those who don't care or know enough
  2. some argue for compulsory bc its respecting forefathers who fought for vote and would decrease role of money - but not strong enough argments
2. 2. countries using FPTP should change to PR
  1. a) PR gives seats proportionally to parties according to the no. of votes they received, means voters are proportionally represented.
  2. b) PR can offer party list systems eg in Poland where the voters can indicate a preference of MP choice. There are also mixed systems or STV ones.
    1. argue all more democratic bc more proportional than FPTP
    2. mixed system used in Germany - one vote is for constituency representative and one is for party
    3. STV: (Australia) voters give a preference of candidates, when one is eliminated votes are transferred to next candidate, ensures no votes are wasted.
3. district magnitude - no. of MPs elected from each constituency. Extent to which voters can decide which candidates take seats won by their party
  1. only relevant to PR systems, to increase proportionality PR systems can use constituencies with larger DM.
  2. FPTP systems dont offer voters intra-party choice.
4. Threshold
  1. a) some argue that PR systems not democratic or good bc allow extremists to be elected
  2. b) some argue PR systems are not good bc too many parties make compromise so difficult and results often don't please anyone
  3. c) this can be introduced through thresholds used, to limit extremists or no. of parties a country just needs to introduce or increase threshold
    1. Netherlands have many parties in govt bc low threshold of 0.7% - still makes sure no 'joke' parties are elected
    2. Russia have a high threshold of 7%. Very few competing parties in government, makes it easier to pass laws.
  4. thresholds counter argument that only FPTP systems produce stable governments, with reasonable threshold can also ensure not 'too many' parties
5. could bring in use of referendums
definition of electoral systems - a set of rules that structures how votes are cast at elections and how they can be converted into seats in office
Duverger's laws - if it is true that FPTP creates 2 party system then better to use PR bc will better represent the people.
PR is logically better system bc was created whilst FPTP evolved, PR was based on disadvantages and criticisms of FPTP

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	Created by sophjoy over 11 years ago