1. Proportional Representation
Electoral Systems:
'First Past the Post'
Proportional Representation
Hybrid

2. 'First Past the Post'
The candidate with more votes than any other is elected.
Also known as the ‘Plurality System’.
Countries that use the ‘FPTP’ system include the UK, USA, Canada and New Zealand. It is also used in many other non-governmental contexts worldwide.
Elections are carried out in a series of single member constituencies. (eg. Counties and cities in England, Ridings in Canada.)

3. It is very common for a candidate or entire government to be elected without gaining the majority of the votes cast. This is due to the combined votes of two or more opposing candidates/parties totalling more than those cast for the candidate/party elected.
No British government has been formed having received a majority of the votes cast in a General election since 1935; however, most of these governments held a majority (sometimes large) of seats in the House of Commons.

4. Advantages: Strong single party governments.
Strong links between MP and constituents, due to single member constituencies.
Easy for the voter to understand.
By providing an outright winner, the system ensures that a party has a mandate to carry out its programme.
It allows decisive political change.
It works!

5. Disadvantages:
Encourages the tactical voting technique, known as ‘compromising’.
The chance of anomalous results is increased.
The winning Party may not have won the overall majority of votes cast.

6. Example …
Name
Party
Votes
Jones, Carol
NDP
15 000
Smith, Bill
Conservative
12 000
Watkins, Jo
Liberal
7 000
Morley, Jan
Green Party
1 000
In this instance Jones won the seat even though she failed to win the majority of the votes. A majority – constituents – voted against Jones and only voted for her. Despite this, Jones still won the seat as she won more votes than any other single candidate.

7. Conclusion
There are advantages and disadvantages to any system. The ‘FPTP’ system is simple and produces a clear winner in any form of election, whereas other systems (such as proportional representation) do not provide such a clear winner.