MMP - Should it stay or should it go now?...
As well as this year's general election there is a referendum on the voting system. At the moment we use the MMP - Mixed Member Proportional system. There are going to be two questions:
- Do you think we should keep MMP?
- If we change from MMP which of the following systems would you choose:
- FFP - First Past the Post
- PV - Preferential Voting
- STV - Single Transferable Vote
- SM - Supplementary Member
Confused yet? Check out the explanations of the different systems below.
MMP - Mixed Member Proportional system
MMP is what we have at the moment and its also used by the Germans, Welsh and Scottish electors. It is a combination of voting for people to represent us in the area we live - our electorate and people to represent us from a political party we think should be represented - the party vote. First introduced in 1996 it replaced our previous FFP system and has resulted in more parties in parliament. Collation governments have been a large part of the way that MMP works in New Zealand. Supporters say it creates a more representative group of MP's and critics say it can result in minor parties holding too much power.
Check out the orange man's explanation on the way MMP works below.
For more detail on how MMP works check out what the Electoral Commission have to say on the system here
FPP - First Past the Post
FFP would be a back to the future type moment - as it is the voting system we had up until 1996 when we changed to MMP. Britian, Canada and the USA still use it and it is actually the way we decide who wins an electorate seat under MMP. The beauty of this system is that it is simple. You vote for someone to be a MP for your electorate and that is it. In the past it resulted in Parliament being dominated by two large parties and there was less representation by smaller parties. Political parties usually govern on their own without the need for collation governments. Critics say it resulted in poor representation and supporters say it made all MPs accountable to an electorate.
For more detail on how FPP works check out what the Electoral Commission have to say on the system here
PV - Preferential Voting
PV is a bit like choosing a sports team when you are at school and its what the Aussies use. You rank candidates in order of preference starting at 1 then 2, 3, 4, 5 and yes there can be some people you don't even want to give a number to. It works on the basis that once you have enough votes to be elected in then voters should be able to allocate thier vote to their second preference as thier first choice has already been successful. Political parties usually govern on their own without the need for collation governments but collations doe sometimes occur. Critics say it results in poor representation as parties can often end up with more MP than than represented by voters first preference.
For more detail on how PV works check out what the Electoral Commission have to say on the system here
STV - Single Transferable Vote
STV is different than the previous methods oulined above - as it results in more than one MP per electorate. It is used by Ireland, Malta and in some parts of Australia. Again it works on ranked candidates and it also uses a quota system. If enough people reach the quota on first count that is it - done deal. If less than the required number meet the quota then the excess above the quota is allocated to the voters second preference - hence the name transferable vote. Its supporters say it is a great way of obtaining a representative government. Its critics.
For more detail on how STV works check out what the Electoral Commission have to say on the system here
SM - Supplemetary Member
SM is
For more detail on how SM works check out what the Electoral Commission have to say on the system here
So what happens next?
The referendum is indicative, which means it is essentially a pretty formal questionnaire - it is not binding on the politicians.
But if at least 50% of us indicate we think we should keep MMP then the Electoral Commission will review the way MMP works in 2012 and recommend any changes that should be made to the way it works. The Electoral Commission will look at:
- The 5% party vote threshold to be eligible for allocation of list seats;
- The one electorate seat threshold to be eligible for allocation of list seats;
- The effects of population change on the ratio of electorate seats to list seats;
- The effect of a party’s candidates winning more seats than the party would be entitled as a result of the party vote;
- Whether someone can be both a constituency candidate and a list candidate;
- A party’s ability to determine the order of candidates on its party list and the inability of voters to rank list candidates in order of preference;
- As well as anything else the Minister of Justice or MP's ask it to consider.