Northern Ireland (European Parliament constituency)
The single, island-wide constituency that elected Members of the European Parliament from Northern Ireland using the Single Transferable Vote system until the United Kingdom left the EU.
Overview
The Northern Ireland constituency was the single electoral area that returned Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from Northern Ireland. Unlike the separate regional constituencies used elsewhere in the United Kingdom, this constituency covered the whole of Northern Ireland and was used for every direct European Parliament election while the UK was a member of the European Union. For the institution it elected representatives to see, see European Parliament, and for the constituency concept, see constituency.
Electoral system and characteristics
Elections in the constituency used the Single Transferable Vote (STV) form of proportional representation. Under STV, voters rank individual candidates in order of preference; votes are transferred according to surpluses and eliminations until the available seats are filled. The system enabled voters to express preferences among candidates from different parties as well as independents, supporting proportional outcomes within a multi-member district.
History and development
The constituency was established with the first direct elections to the European Parliament and remained the method of electing MEPs from Northern Ireland throughout UK membership in the EU. It continued in use even when electoral arrangements in Great Britain changed to regional party lists, preserving a distinct practice for Northern Ireland until the UK ceased to elect MEPs following withdrawal from the EU.
Political significance and examples
Because it covered the entire province, the constituency produced representation that reflected Northern Ireland's particular political landscape, including unionist, nationalist and cross-community parties. The STV system allowed smaller parties and independents to compete meaningfully, and results were often cited as an indicator of shifting local political balances. For background on the territory it represented, see Northern Ireland.
Notable distinctions
- Single, province-wide: the whole of Northern Ireland functioned as one multi-member constituency.
- Use of STV: it was the UK area that consistently used Single Transferable Vote for European elections, differing from most other UK constituencies.
- Ceased with UK membership: the constituency stopped electing MEPs when the United Kingdom left the European Union.
As an electoral construct, the Northern Ireland constituency is often referenced in discussions of proportional representation, cross-community politics and the ways electoral systems interact with regional identities.
Questions and answers
Q: How is the Northern Ireland constituency of the European Parliament chosen?
A: The Northern Ireland constituency of the European Parliament is chosen using Single Transferable Vote.
Q: What is Single Transferable Vote?
A: Single Transferable Vote is a voting system where voters rank candidates in order of preference and the candidates with the most votes are elected.
Q: What is the geographical scope of the Northern Ireland constituency of the European Parliament?
A: The geographical scope of the Northern Ireland constituency of the European Parliament is all of Northern Ireland.
Q: What is a constituency?
A: A constituency is an electoral district where voters elect representatives to a legislative body.
Q: How many Members of the European Parliament are chosen from the Northern Ireland constituency?
A: The number of Members of the European Parliament chosen from the Northern Ireland constituency is not specified.
Q: What is the purpose of the European Parliament?
A: The purpose of the European Parliament is to represent the citizens of the European Union and to pass laws and policies that affect the entire EU.
Q: Who is eligible to vote in the Northern Ireland constituency of the European Parliament?
A: All eligible voters who are citizens of Northern Ireland are eligible to vote in the Northern Ireland constituency of the European Parliament.
Related articles
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Northern Ireland (European Parliament constituency) Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/71030
Sources
- ark.ac.uk : The 2004 European Election
- ark.ac.uk : The 1999 European Election
- ark.ac.uk : The 1994 European Election
- ark.ac.uk : The 1989 European Election
- ark.ac.uk : The 1984 European Election
- ark.ac.uk : The 1979 European Election