So we've got our general election this Saturday. I've already decided which party & candidate I'm voting for, but there is also a referendum on possibly changing our voting system.
I would like D&ST's input, as chances are you've experienced voting systems on this list which I haven't. I don't mind if this becomes more of a general "which system is better" discussion.
We currently operate under s system called MMP (Mixed Member Proportional), having changed from a system called FPP (First Past the Post) in 1996 (first MMP election that year, last FPP one in 1993)
The choices are: (system descriptions below)
Do you want to keep MMP? Yes/No.
If not, which system would you prefer? FPP, STV, SM, PV.
If over 50% opt to keep MMP, it stays but will be reviewed and maybe tweaked. If under 50% vote to keep MMP, there might be another referendum on the voting system in 2014.
MMP (Mixed Member Proportional) - 120 seats; 70 local electorates, 50 party seats. Two votes, one for a local candidate, one for a party. The party vote determines a party's share of all seats in parliament. 40% of the party vote means a party gets 40% of the seats. If a party is entitled to 48 seats, but wins only 30 electorate seats, they get an additional 18 party list seats. There are exceptions (overhangs), but only in rare cases where a party gets more electorate seats than party seats. A party needs at least 5% of the party vote to get any party seats, unless they also win an electorate seat. Proportional. Coalition governments are typical, but its not impossible to get a single-party government, and this year that will probably happen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-past-the-post (BBcode dont like this URL)
FPP (First Past the Post - 120 seats. One vote, for a local candidate, in an electorate. The party with over half of the electorate seats forms the government. Not proportional, two-horse race. Usually results in single-party governments, though in theory coalitions are possible. In the very last FPP election winning party had the majority of seats with only 35% of the total vote, and in that same election another party got 18% but only 2 out of 99 seats (In 1993 we had 99 seats not 120). Typically a two-horse race.
SM (Supplementary Member) - 120 seats; 90 local electorates, 30 party list seats. Two votes, one for electorate, one for the party. 90 electorates, 30 party seats. Unlike MMP, the party vote only determines the share of the party seats. There is a proportional component, but results are similar to FPP, and it usually produces single-party governments.
PV (Preferential Voting) - 120 local electorate seats. One vote, one MP elected per electorate. You rank electorate candidates in order of preference. Candidates must reach over 50% of the vote to be elected, lowest-scoring MPs are eliminated and their votes transferred to other candidates until a majority is reached. Not very proportional, minor parties might geat a seat or two, but would typically result in single-party governments.
STV (Single Transferrable Vote) - 120 electorate seats, but only 24-30 electorates, each with 3-7 MPs. Rank candidates in order of preference, "wasted" votes transferred as per PV above, but lower thresholds due to multiple candidates per electorate. Roughly proportional. Like MMP, coalition governments are usually necessary.
I would like D&ST's input, as chances are you've experienced voting systems on this list which I haven't. I don't mind if this becomes more of a general "which system is better" discussion.
We currently operate under s system called MMP (Mixed Member Proportional), having changed from a system called FPP (First Past the Post) in 1996 (first MMP election that year, last FPP one in 1993)
The choices are: (system descriptions below)
Do you want to keep MMP? Yes/No.
If not, which system would you prefer? FPP, STV, SM, PV.
If over 50% opt to keep MMP, it stays but will be reviewed and maybe tweaked. If under 50% vote to keep MMP, there might be another referendum on the voting system in 2014.
MMP (Mixed Member Proportional) - 120 seats; 70 local electorates, 50 party seats. Two votes, one for a local candidate, one for a party. The party vote determines a party's share of all seats in parliament. 40% of the party vote means a party gets 40% of the seats. If a party is entitled to 48 seats, but wins only 30 electorate seats, they get an additional 18 party list seats. There are exceptions (overhangs), but only in rare cases where a party gets more electorate seats than party seats. A party needs at least 5% of the party vote to get any party seats, unless they also win an electorate seat. Proportional. Coalition governments are typical, but its not impossible to get a single-party government, and this year that will probably happen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-past-the-post (BBcode dont like this URL)
FPP (First Past the Post - 120 seats. One vote, for a local candidate, in an electorate. The party with over half of the electorate seats forms the government. Not proportional, two-horse race. Usually results in single-party governments, though in theory coalitions are possible. In the very last FPP election winning party had the majority of seats with only 35% of the total vote, and in that same election another party got 18% but only 2 out of 99 seats (In 1993 we had 99 seats not 120). Typically a two-horse race.
SM (Supplementary Member) - 120 seats; 90 local electorates, 30 party list seats. Two votes, one for electorate, one for the party. 90 electorates, 30 party seats. Unlike MMP, the party vote only determines the share of the party seats. There is a proportional component, but results are similar to FPP, and it usually produces single-party governments.
PV (Preferential Voting) - 120 local electorate seats. One vote, one MP elected per electorate. You rank electorate candidates in order of preference. Candidates must reach over 50% of the vote to be elected, lowest-scoring MPs are eliminated and their votes transferred to other candidates until a majority is reached. Not very proportional, minor parties might geat a seat or two, but would typically result in single-party governments.
STV (Single Transferrable Vote) - 120 electorate seats, but only 24-30 electorates, each with 3-7 MPs. Rank candidates in order of preference, "wasted" votes transferred as per PV above, but lower thresholds due to multiple candidates per electorate. Roughly proportional. Like MMP, coalition governments are usually necessary.