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

The voting system used for local elections in the UK is First Past the Post. This system is characterized by its straightforward approach where the candidate who receives the most votes in a constituency is declared the winner. Only one vote is cast by each elector for their preferred candidate, and the candidate with the highest number of votes secures the seat.

This method is widely used for various elections in the UK, including parliamentary elections, and is valued for its simplicity, making it easy for voters to understand. However, it can lead to outcomes where the winning candidate does not achieve an absolute majority, as it only requires more votes than any other candidate, rather than more than half of the votes cast.

The other systems listed are generally used in different contexts within the UK electoral framework. For example, the Alternative Vote is used for some parliamentary by-elections, the Single Transferable Vote is often used in Northern Ireland and in local elections in Scotland, and Preference voting may refer to ranked voting systems but is not typically used for local elections in the UK.