FPTP v. PR Mock Election Lesson Starter What is an election? What do you think is the point of an election?

FPTP v. PR Mock Election

Lesson Starter

• What is an election?

• What do you think is the point of an election?

Voting Systems

• There are two main types of voting in the UK

1. First Past the Post (FPTP)

2. Proportional Representation (PR)

Voting Systems

1. First Past the Post (FPTP)

This is when the candidate with the most votes is elected

Voting Systems

1. First Past the Post (FPTP)

Parties put forward candidates and voters then vote for one of these candidates

Voting Systems

2. Proportional Representation (PR)

This is when the number of votes a party gets = a proportional number of seats

What do we mean by proportional?

• If 4 people were to share a cake equally, each person would get one quarter or 25%

• Each gets a fair proportion

What do we mean by proportional?

• With PR, the number of votes a party gets is roughly equal to the number of seats in parliament the party gets.

• E.g. if a party gets 25% of the vote, they get 25% of the seats

Voting Systems

2. Proportional Representation (PR)

So in PR, you vote for a party rather than a candidate

The party chooses who gets the seat from a list of their best people

Election Rules…

• You have one vote in each election

• Put an “X” beside your chosen candidate/party

• Fold once and put in ballot box

Class Election

• We will have 2 elections – one FPTP and one PR

1. FPTP – candidates:

John Smith – LabourDavid Anderson – ConservativeHarry Hill – Liberal DemocratJock McDonald - SNPJock McDonald - SNP

FPTP Results…Candidate Party Votes

John Smith Labour

David Anderson

Conservative

Harry Hill Liberal Democrat

Jock McDonald

SNP

Winner =

Class Election

• We will have 2 elections – one FPTP and one PR

2. PR – parties:

LabourConservativeLiberal DemocratSNPSNP

PR Results…

Party Votes MSPs gained

Labour

Conservative

Liberal Democrats

SNP

2 votes = 1 MSP

Party ListsLabour

1. John Grey

2. Diane Abbott

3. Margaret Curran

4. David Blunkett

5. Tony Benn

Conservative

1. Annabel Goldie

2. Ruth Davidson

3. Jackson Carlaw

4. David Cameron

Liberal Democrats

1. Nick Clegg

2. Paddy Ashdown

3. Charles Kennedy

4. Tavish ScottSNPSNP

1. John Mason

2. Nicola Sturgeon

3. Kenny MacAskill

4. John Swinney

Task

Write a list of the names of MSPs elected using the PR system.

Which is better?

• Think of the advantages and disadvantages of each system and write them down…