Electoral Systems Questions
The additional member system (AMS) electoral system has several advantages.
1. Proportional representation: AMS combines elements of both proportional representation and plurality/majority systems. It ensures that the overall distribution of seats in the legislature reflects the proportion of votes received by each political party. This promotes fairness and representation for smaller parties and minority groups.
2. Voter choice: Under AMS, voters have the opportunity to cast two votes - one for a specific candidate in their constituency and another for a political party. This allows voters to express their preferences for both individual candidates and parties, providing a wider range of choices and increasing voter satisfaction.
3. Constituency representation: AMS maintains a link between constituents and their elected representatives. Voters can choose a local representative who is accountable to their specific constituency, ensuring that local issues and concerns are addressed in the legislature.
4. Stable governments: AMS often leads to the formation of coalition governments, as no single party usually wins an outright majority. This encourages cooperation and compromise among different parties, promoting stability and reducing the likelihood of extreme policies being implemented.
5. Reduced wasted votes: In plurality/majority systems, votes cast for losing candidates are often considered wasted. However, under AMS, these votes can still contribute to the overall proportionality of the legislature. This encourages voter participation and ensures that a broader range of voices are represented.
Overall, the additional member system electoral system offers a balance between proportionality and local representation, promoting fairness, voter choice, stable governments, and reduced wasted votes.