What advantage does the Additional Member System (AMS) provide in voting representation?

The Additional Member System (AMS) enhances voting representation by allowing for a broader and more proportionate representation of political parties. This system combines both first-past-the-post and proportional representation elements.

In constituencies, voters cast their ballots for a candidate, and this typically results in a significant number of seats being won by the leading party. However, the proportional component of AMS is designed to balance this by enabling voters to also select a party on a separate list. This means that smaller parties and those that may not win many constituency seats can still gain representation in the parliament based on the overall percentage of votes they receive, leading to a more diverse legislative body that reflects a wider range of political views and interests.

This aspect of AMS is particularly important in ensuring that votes for minority parties are not wasted, providing voters with more options and enhancing democracy by increasing the representation of varied perspectives within the government.