The SNTV Electoral System

Electoral systems are methods that calculate the number of election positions that parties or individuals are awarded with after an election. There are three types of electoral systems that are generally used around the world. They include plurality electoral systems, majority electoral systems, proportional representation. The party list system, a sub category of proportional representation has long been assessed and analyzed by a number of different groups to identify whether can be deemed successful. In particular, since its introduction in the 1850’s the single non-transferable vote or SNTV is one particular electoral system that has been evaluated. SNTV is a system that is utilized for use in multi member elections and can be used for both provincial and legislative systems. SNTV is used in a number of different countries for different situations, not all of them government related. Some places that apply the use of SNTV include Ireland, parts of Australia, parts of the United States, parts of Asia and in Afghanistan. Through a careful investigation it can be seen that SNTV is similar in many aspects to other electoral systems and in which ways politicians politick. Yet, SNTV also influences some different types of politicking by politicians as a result of the way in which votes are tallied.

Under the SNTV system each voter is able to cast one vote for one running candidate in a race where there are a number of candidates running for a number of different positions. Positions are filled by candidates that receive the most votes. SNTV is a system that puts political parties directly at ends with each other. For example, in a district that contains four seats a candidate with a little over 20% of the vote from citizens will w...

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...e. Yet, in other political systems such as in the U.S., candidates must appeal to other voters that may not affiliate with their particular party as well in order to garner enough votes to win an election.

Truly, the SNTV system due to its relevance to nearly all other major electoral systems is something that is unique in its own way. The complexities and requirements that are associated with success in the SNTV system helps to express the reasons for different forms of politicking that political parties and candidates must engage in to be elected to certain positions. The most important aspect to recognize is that in other political systems the failure to win an election tends to rest on the ability of individual candidates. Yet, the Inability to efficiently politick in such a system as SNTV can lead to the failure and fragmentation of an entire political party.