When it comes to elections, everyone wants a system that is fair, simple, and proportional. Two of the most widely debated electoral methods, Single Transferable Vote (STV) and First Past the Post (FPTP), offer unique approaches to voting.
One might ask: how are voting systems relevant or topical? Well, they play a role in every election you participate in: from the UK General Election to smaller-scale decisions, such as the recent Student Union elections at Stirling University.
In the case of the student union elections, the STV system was employed, as it is often credited with being proportional and inclusive to all voters. Meanwhile, UK general elections have traditionally used FPTP, which is praised for its straightforwardness and decisive results.
So, why are there two dominant systems, and why can’t there just be a one-size-fits-all approach? Brig will answer these questions by highlighting the two systems’ fundamental advantages and drawbacks through theoretical arguments.
How does STV work?
The Single Transferable Vote system operates through preferential ranking. Voters indicate their order of preference among the multiple candidates, which will then be re-distributed through rounds until a winner is announced.
A significant advantage of STV is that it ensures every ballot retains value, even if the voter’s first preference is eliminated, meaning no vote is wasted. Furthermore, STV ensures a proportional distribution of seats. For example, in a Stirling Council election, where STV is used, the Council members will be representative of the voting preferences of the council region.
STV makes certain that all voters are represented. This is relevant in Student Union elections, where the universities’ diverse student body is not marginalised or minority perspectives disproportional in election results.
However, STV is not without its faults. A disadvantage of STV is its inherent complexity, making the process of voting and counting ballots longer. This can make STV impractical for larger elections despite being used in the Irish general elections. STV can also produce indecisive results, meaning a coalition has to be formed to create a majority government.
For example, in the 2020 Irish general elections, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil entered a coalition government. This was despite Sinn Féin receiving a 24.5 per cent share of votes and 37 seats, more than Fine Gael’s 20 per cent and 35 seats. One could then debate how fair coalition governments are as they put smaller parties in power. It also raises questions about how much they represent the will of the people.
How does FPTP work?
First Past the Post follows a majoritarian logic, where the candidate with the most votes wins, whether or not there’s a majority victory. Essentially, majoritarian logic means governance through the candidate with the greatest number of votes.
Compared to STV, FPTP’s biggest advantage is that it’s undoubtedly efficient and easy to comprehend, especially during large Westminster elections. Seldom are there coalition governments from FPTP, ensuring there are results which avoid confusion and the sometimes unfair power given through coalitions.
However, FPTP faces criticism for producing highly disproportionate election outcomes. If a candidate wins with 49 per cent of the vote, there is still the remaining 51 per cent of the electorate who have had their votes wasted. This problem is highlighted in Westminster Elections, where Labour received a 33.7 per cent popular vote share, yet gained 63 per cent of parliamentary seats (411 seats divided by 650). Problems can arise when a government yielding significant power is formed despite lacking popular support.
Final Thoughts
The comparative drawbacks and advantages of STV and FPTP ultimately matter to the intended values of those who choose the electoral system.
If the objective is to maximise voter representation and ensure no vote is wasted, then STV is the superior option, as demonstrated by its successful application in recent Student Union elections.
On the other hand, if one prioritises straightforwardness and decisive results, then FPTP is best suited, albeit at the expense of disproportionality.
Overall, no voting system is flawless, and the debate over STV or FPTP highlights the broader tension between electoral legitimacy and democratic decisiveness.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels Free Photos
I am a third-year Politics and Journalism Studies student at the University of Stirling (2022-) and a writer and sub-editor for the Brig for over a year (Nov. 2023-), focusing mainly on political topics.
