What evidence demonstrates the issue of wasted votes in the AMS?

The evidence that demonstrates the issue of wasted votes in the Additional Member System (AMS) is seen in the scenario where the Liberal Democrats receive more votes than the Scottish Greens but end up with fewer seats in the parliament. This situation highlights the concept of wasted votes, where a party may gain a significant number of votes but does not translate this popularity into representation within the legislative assembly.

In the AMS, voters cast two votes: one for a constituency candidate and another for a party. If a party accumulates a number of votes that do not contribute to winning constituencies or securing enough seats, those votes can be considered wasted. The discrepancy between votes received and seats won can lead to a situation where smaller parties, like the Greens, may achieve representation despite having fewer overall votes than larger parties like the Liberal Democrats. This illustrates a central criticism of electoral systems, where the actual representation does not align with the public's voting patterns. Thus, the correct choice effectively shows how the electoral mechanics of AMS can create instances where votes do not equate to seats, underscoring the potential for wasted votes in this system.