Voting Systems – Scotland – Additional Member System (AMS)

Scottish Parliament Elections The Scottish Parliament is a Parliament solely for ScotlandThe Scottish Parliament is a Parliament solely for Scotland It is in addition to the UK ParliamentIt is in addition to the UK Parliament

The Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament deals with “devolved matters” – e.g. health, education, transportThe Scottish Parliament deals with “devolved matters” – e.g. health, education, transport It does not deal with “reserved matters” – e.g. defence, immigration, benefits – these are still controlled by UK ParliamentIt does not deal with “reserved matters” – e.g. defence, immigration, benefits – these are still controlled by UK Parliament

Electing an MSP The country is split into constituencies and regionsThe country is split into constituencies and regions Only 129 MSPs in Scottish Parliament compared to 650 in UK ParliamentOnly 129 MSPs in Scottish Parliament compared to 650 in UK Parliament A different voting system is used to elect MSPs:A different voting system is used to elect MSPs: The Additional Member System (AMS)

Additional Member System (AMS) This is a mixture of proportional representation (PR) and First Past the Post (FPTP)This is a mixture of proportional representation (PR) and First Past the Post (FPTP) In PR, the % votes a party gets is supposed to be roughly the same as the % of seatsIn PR, the % votes a party gets is supposed to be roughly the same as the % of seats The simplest form of PR is the Party List system – this works whereby voters don’t vote for a candidate but for a party, e.g. Labour. After all the votes are cast, seats are awarded based on the % of the vote each party wins.The simplest form of PR is the Party List system – this works whereby voters don’t vote for a candidate but for a party, e.g. Labour. After all the votes are cast, seats are awarded based on the % of the vote each party wins. So if Labour got 40% of the vote, they would be awarded 40% of the seatsSo if Labour got 40% of the vote, they would be awarded 40% of the seats

Additional Member System (AMS) AMS combines the Party List system with FPTPAMS combines the Party List system with FPTP WHY?WHY? It is supposed to be fairer – the number of seats parties win is roughly same as their share of the vote. Also, smaller parties have a chance at being elected. It was thought that if FPTP was used, Labour would always win.It is supposed to be fairer – the number of seats parties win is roughly same as their share of the vote. Also, smaller parties have a chance at being elected. It was thought that if FPTP was used, Labour would always win.

Scotland is split up into 73 different CONSTITUENCIES. Your constituency is either GLASGOW SHETTLESTON or GLASGOW PROVAN. It is also split up into 8 different REGIONS. Your region is Glasgow. Each constituency has 1 MSP and each region has 7 MSPs to REPRESENT them. How many MSPs are there? Additional Member System (AMS)

There are 73 Constituency MSPs and 56 Regional MSPs. Altogether, there are 129 MSPs. Regions of Scotland There are 8 regions of Scotland: West of Scotland, Lothians, South Scotland, Central Scotland, Mid Scotland and Fife, Glasgow, North East Scotland, Highlands and Islands

How Scottish Parliament Elections work… Each voter has TWO votes: 1.First vote – vote for a candidate as your constituency MSP using FPTP 2.Second vote – vote for a party as your regional vote using the Party List system (PR)

How Scottish Parliament Elections work… So, the constituency MSP is elected by FPTP – who ever gets the most votes in a constituency becomes the MSP for that constituency For regional MSPs it is more complicated. After all the votes are cast, the seats are awarded to parties proportionally Then the parties allocate MSPs from their Party Lists

AMS Task… Take a double page in your jotter. Put the headings “Advantages of AMS” and “Disadvantages of AMS” on each page. As we go through the next slides add information to each page.

Advantages of AMS Fairer – Seats gained are more in line with the % of votes cast Better for women and ethnic minorities – parties put forward their lists in order of preference so voters can’t discriminate Coalition Governments for likely – parties have to agree with each other more about policies – work together More choice – smaller parties and independent candidates have a better chance of being elected Best of both – Constituency MSP means link between MSP and constituents is maintained and regional MSPs mean that there is a more representative distribution of seats

Disadvantages of AMS Difficult to understand – voters are confused by having two ballot papers and think they have to vote for the same party twice Party lists not democratic – the party rather than the voter chooses the MSPs which is perhaps undemocratic Coalitions are weak – decisions made are compromises where neither side is happy Coalitions break down – difficult to get decisions passed due to internal arguing Confusion between Constituency and Regional MSPs – Which MSP do you contact for help?