The Single Transferable Vote What is the Single

The Single Transferable Vote

What is the Single Transferable Vote? �The Single Transferable Vote is used for Scottish Local Council elections �Elections for Scottish local councils take place every 4 or 5 years depending on other elections �It is a Proportional Representation voting system �It was introduced by the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition - Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 �Replaced FPTP for local council elections in 2007

STV �Under STV, local authority areas are divided up into wards and each area has several councillors representing it. �In Aberdeenshire Council for example there are: � 19 wards � 68 local councillors �Banff and District has 3

STV process explained �Watch the video to understand the formula behind the STV system and think about how it makes it a fairer way to elect those who represent us in local councils. https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=b. LH_w 5 k. HJp. A

Political Party Number of Councill ors Net gain/loss compared with 2003 elections Scottish National Party 363 +182 Scottish Labour 348 -161 Scottish Liberal Democrats 166 -9 Scottish Conservatives 143 +21 Scottish Green 8 +8 Scottish Socialists 1 -1 Solidarity 1 +1 Total: 1, 222 “After the change of electoral system, the SNP were big losers in the 2007 local council elections. Scottish Liberal Democrats lost the least number of councillors. ” (View of Ann Mc. Dermott) Using the 2007 local election results, give two reasons why Ann Mc. Dermott could be accused of exaggeration.

Advantages Disadvantages � STV breaks the direct link � It produces a more between voters and councillors proportional result. In the as people no longer have one councillor for their ward. Under 2014 Scottish local council STV people have three or four elections Labour won 31. 4% of councillors for a large, multithe vote and won 32. 2% of the member ward. seats. � There has been an increase in the � It reduces confrontation in number of councils with no overall control. This may weaken politics − as parties have to the power of local councils and work together in the councils. make it difficult to get things Aberdeenshire Council is run by passed if there is not agreement a coalition with the SNP, Liberal among the parties. For example, Democrats, Labour, there is no one party in control in Conservative and independents. Aberdeenshire council. � It is complicated and unfamiliar � Only parties, or coalition of to voters – as voters have to rank parties, who have more than their choices instead of putting a 50% of the vote can win cross against one candidate. This therefore it leads to strong may lead to “donkey voting” where governing of councils. voters vote for candidates in the order they appear on the ballot.

Questions �Explain, in detail, three reasons why STV could be considered a fairer way of electing representatives. 8 marks Now peer mark your partner’s answer by ensuring they have used PEEA x 3 Give two stars and a wish!

Group Task �https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=1 Fv. GK 7 j 56 BQ �Using the knowledge you have learned include the following in an ‘STV explained’ youtube video. - When STV was introduced - When STV system is used - How the system works - Advantages and disadvantages of the system - Or make a poster which summarises advantages and disadvantages of STV.