What voting system is used in the UK for local councils and Parliament elections?

The voting system used in the UK for local councils and Parliament elections is known as "First past the post." This system operates on a simple majority basis, where the candidate who receives the most votes in a constituency is elected. This method is straightforward and quick to count, making it accessible for voters. In parliamentary elections, each Member of Parliament represents a single geographic constituency, and the candidate with the highest vote total wins.

This approach leads to a clear outcome in each constituency without the need for further rounds of voting, thus often resulting in a quicker formation of a government compared to more complex voting systems. While First past the post is efficient, it also tends to favor larger political parties, which can lead to disparities between the percentage of total votes received by a party and the percentage of seats they gain in Parliament. Understanding how this system functions is crucial for comprehending the electoral landscape in the UK.

The other options represent alternative voting systems that are not used for these elections. For instance, proportional representation aims to allocate seats based on the proportion of votes received, while instant-runoff voting allows voters to rank candidates, and the single transferable vote provides a method for electing multiple candidates in multi-member constituencies.