Voting systems in Scotland

MSPs are chosen for the Scottish Parliament using an electoral system called the Additional Member System (AMS).

• AMS is a form of proportional representation

• voters record two votes:

  • one for a Constituency MSP
  • one for a Regional MSP

• There are 129 MSPs altogether:

  • 73 constituency MSPs
  • 56 additional regional MSPs (7 per region)

Elections to Scottish local government (councils) use an electoral system called the Single Transferable Vote (STV):

• for STV council areas are divided into wards
• each ward elects three or four councillors
• each voter has more than one vote

Watch this video to see how MSPs are elected using an electoral system called the Additional Member System or AMS .

There are two types of MSP:

• Constituency MSPs - Scotland is divided into 73 areas called constituencies. Each constituency is represented by one MSP.

• Regional MSPs - Scotland is divided into eight regions. Each region is represented by seven MSPs.

MSPs are chosen for the Scottish Parliament using an electoral system called the Additional Member System or AMS.

AMS is a form of proportional representation. This means it aims to give political parties a share of representatives (MSPs in Scotland) in proportion to their share of the vote.

Voters are given a ballot paper which asks them to record two (‘X’) votes:

1. the first vote is for the constituency MSP
2. the second vote is for a regional MSP

In the Additional Member System, the first ballot paper is used to elect constituency MSPs.

• the ballot paper has a list of named individual candidates
• each political party can put forward a candidate
• independent candidates can put themselves forward
• voters put one X against the name of their chosen candidate
• the candidate with the most votes is elected

This part of the Additional Member System works in the same way as the First Past the Post System used to elect MPs to the UK Parliament in Westminster.

In the Additional Member System, the second ballot paper is used to elect regional MSPs. This gives voters the opportunity (a second vote) to vote for a political party.

This second vote is what makes AMS a form of proportional representation. It is used to make the proportion of MSPs from each political party more similar to the number of votes they have received.

• before the election, each political party publishes a list of candidates for each region
• the second ballot paper has a list of political parties
• voters put one X next to their choice of political party
• votes are counted to see what proportion of votes each party received

The number of constituency MSPs elected for each party is counted and compared to the proportion of votes each party received in each region.

Additional MSPs are elected from each political party's regional list. The number of additional MSPs is used to reflect the proportion of votes each party received in the second ballot.

This aims to make the overall result fairer to all parties.

For example, in 2021 the Green Party did not receive enough votes to return any constituency MSPs. However they were given eight additional (or list) MSPs across seven of Scotland's region because of the proportion of votes that they had received in these regions. This gives Green Party voters fairer representation in proportion to their political support across Scotland's regions.

There are 56 additional regional MSPs (7 per region). When added to the 73 constituency MSPs this makes 129 MSPs altogether.

• More choice: Voters have more choice when they go to vote. In the first vote they may choose a local representative from one party but in their second (list) vote they may switch to a different party.

• Fairer to all parties / proportional: The overall result is fairer to all parties or more proportional. For example, the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections saw a maximum difference of 5% between the voted received and the MSPs returned.

• More views represented: It is possible that a greater number of parties will be represented in the government as a coalition is more likely.

• Every vote counts: Although voters may find their chosen constituency candidate has little chance of winning, their second vote will help to elect a representative from the party of their choice.

• More choice of representative: Voters don't just rely on one MSP. They can seek help from an MSP who they feel will better represent their views or needs.

• Complex: Elections are more complicated with two votes and in deciding which candidates are elected from the regional list.

• Multiple representatives: Having several MSPs to represent each voter is confusing for some voters.

• Coalitions more likely: Coalition or a minority government becomes more likely. This can slow down political decision-making. It can also give more power to smaller parties if the larger party in government depends on their support.

• Not most proportional system: Although AMS is a proportional representation system, it is not the most proportional of systems. For example, the SNP received around 44% of the vote in the 2016 Scottish Parliament election but returned 49% of MSPs (63 out of 129) while the Liberal Democrats received around 7% of the vote but only returned 5 MSPs (4%).

• Parties control regional lists: Second vote is used to select representatives from a list to make the overall result proportional. This is less democratic as political parties not voters decide the order of the candidates on the list.

Watch this video to learn how the Single Transferable Vote or STV works.

Elections to Scottish local government (councils) use an electoral system called the Single Transferable Vote (STV). STV was first used in Scotland in 2007.

For the purposes of the election, council areas are divided into wards. Each ward elects three or four councillors.

Using the STV electoral system, each voter has more than one vote. Rather than placing one ‘X’ next to the candidate of their choice, the voter is asked to rank the candidates in order of preference eg 1, 2, 3 etc. The voter can vote for as many candidates as they wish or can choose to vote for only one (rank 1).

Candidates must achieve a minimum percentage of votes to be elected as councillors. If this does not happen based on people's first choice votes the candidate with the lowest number of votes drops out. People who voted for this candidate have their vote transferred to their second choice.

If a candidate achieves the required percentage of the vote they are then elected. Any 'surplus' votes they receive above this are redistributed among the other candidates based on voters' second choices.

This process is repeated until all councillors are elected.

• Greater voting choice: Voters can rank order the candidates giving them more choice. They can choose within parties and between parties.

• Wider representation : As each voter has several councillors to represent them in their ward this gives them more choice in who they can speak to about their problems

• Proportionality: System is more proportional than AMS and First Part the Post.

• No tactical voting: No votes are ‘wasted’ ie all votes count towards choosing a representative. There is no need for tactical voting and there are no ‘safe’ seats.

• Parties must work together: The most likely result of the election is that no one party will control a council. STV is more likely to result in a coalition (or minority control) of a council.

• Complexity: Elections are more complex. Several different representatives covering the same ward are likely to be elected.

• Coalitions more likely: As most parties gain representation under STV usually councils are run by a several parties together in a coalition which can make decision making harder.

MSPs are elected using an electoral system called the Additional Member System (AMS):

• There are constituency MSPs and regional MSPs.

AMS is a form of proportional representation and voters have two votes:

• the first ballot paper is used to elect constituency MSPs

• the second ballot paper is used to elect regional MSPs

Elections to Scottish local government (councils) use an electoral system called the Single Transferable Vote (STV):

• each voter has more than one vote
  • they can vote for as many candidates as they wish in order of preference
  • or can choose to vote for only one (rank 1).