First-past-the-post voting
First-past-the-post (FPTP), also known as first-preference plurality or simply plurality voting, is a single-winner electoral system where voters select one candidate, and the candidate who receives the most votes is declared the winner. The system does not require the winning candidate to obtain more than half of the total votes cast, only to secure more votes than any other contender.
Use in Zambia
In Zambia, the First-past-the-post system is used in elections for the National Assembly and local government councils. Each constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) to represent it in the National Assembly. The candidate who garners the highest number of votes in a constituency is declared the winner.
The system was inherited from the British colonial administration and retained after independence in 1964. It has since remained the primary method of electing representatives at the parliamentary and local levels. However, for presidential elections, Zambia uses a two-round system (majority vote) where a candidate must receive more than 50 percent of valid votes to be elected.
Advantages
Supporters of the First-past-the-post system in Zambia argue that it:
- Is simple to understand and easy to administer.
- Encourages a direct relationship between voters and their representatives.
- Produces stable governments with clear majorities in Parliament.
Criticism
Critics argue that the system:
- Often leads to unbalanced representation, where smaller parties receive fewer seats despite significant vote shares.
- Encourages regional or tribal voting patterns.
- Can result in “wasted votes,” where votes for losing candidates do not contribute to representation.
Historical Background
The First-past-the-post system has its origins in the British parliamentary tradition, which Zambia inherited as part of its colonial legacy. Similar systems are used in other Commonwealth nations such as the United Kingdom, India, and Canada. Some countries, including New Zealand and South Africa, have since reformed their electoral systems to adopt forms of proportional representation, though Zambia has continued with the FPTP system for legislative elections.
