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Understanding Electoral Systems: Majoritarian vs. Proportional Representation

This guide explores the nuances of electoral systems, focusing on Majoritarian (SMPR) and Proportional Representation (PR). It highlights the infrequent changes between system types, examines the disproportionality associated with various electoral formulas, and discusses indices like the Loosemore-Hanby and Gallagher Index. The text also delves into methods of translating votes into seats, featuring divisor methods (d’Hondt, Saint-Lague), the importance of district magnitude and electoral thresholds, and candidate nomination processes. Understanding these elements is crucial for grasping electoral competition's dynamics.

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Understanding Electoral Systems: Majoritarian vs. Proportional Representation

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  1. Electoral Systems • Majoritarian -> SMPR or Majority Rule • Consensual -> PR • Changes in electoral systems are relatively rare & usually from SMPR to PR • Issues: • Disproportionality of different rules • Influence on Party Systems

  2. Disproportionality • Loosemore-Hanby index • ½ * |vi-si| - understates prop. for PR • Rae Index • 1/n * |vi-si| - overstates prop. for PR • Gallagher Index • ½ * (vi-si)2

  3. Electoral Formulas • How votes are translated into seats • District size is important • PR in a single-member district? • Majoritarian Systems: • Plurality • Majority Run-off (Majority-Plurality) • Alternative Vote

  4. Electoral Formulas • Semi-proportional Systems • Limited Vote • Single non-transferable vote • Parallel plurality-PR (mixed) • Proportional Systems • List Proportional Representation • Mixed member systems • Single transferable vote

  5. Methods of list PR • Divisor methods: • d’Hondt: 1, 2, 3, … • Saint-Lague: 1, 3, 5, … • Modified Saint-Lague: 1.4, 3, 5, …. • LR-Quota methods: • Hare: q=V/M • Droop: q=V/(M+1) • Imperiali: q=V/(M+2) More disproportional More disproportional

  6. Example of divisor method • 100 voters, 3 parties, 3 seats, d’Hondt Divisor 1 2 3 4 Party A Party B Party C 70 20 10 35 10 5 23.3 6.6 3.3 17.5 5 2.5

  7. Example of divisor method • 100 voters, 3 parties, 3 seats, Saint-Lague Divisor 1 3 5 7 Party A Party B Party C 70 20 10 23.3 6.6 3.3 14 4 2 10 2.9 1.4

  8. Example of LR-Quota method • 99 voters, 3 parties, 3 seats, Hare Quota: 99/3 = 33 Party A Party B Party C 69 19 11 36 - - 3 - -

  9. Example of LR-Quota method • 99 voters, 3 parties, 3 seats, Droop Quota: 99/4 = 24.5 Party A Party B Party C 69 19 11 44.5 - - 20 - -

  10. District Magnitude • District Magnitude = Number of seats/legislators elected from district. • Important for proportionality • Small district  High Disproportionality • Large district  Low Disproportionality ? • Large district magnitude is a prerequisite for proportionality

  11. Electoral Threshold • How much proportionality do we want? • Relationship between stability and the number of parties ? • The Weimar Republic • Electoral Thresholds are barriers against small parties • Must win x% of vote before being allocated any seats. • District Magnitude can also work as an electoral threshold

  12. Other factors • Size of Legislature • Presidential Systems • Malapportionment – districts have unequal representation.

  13. Cox’s On Electoral Systems • Presents a more thorough and detailed account • Considers all democratic countries (FH) 1992-1993 • Electoral system = set of laws and party rules that regulate electoral competition between and within parties

  14. Nominating Candidates • How do parties select candidates ? • Sometimes nomination procedures are governed by law, e.g., Germany, Brazil. • Aspects depend on the problems we are looking at. • Fusion candidates (nominated by more than one party • Joint lists – supported by more than one party (Israel 1969) • Both aid smaller parties

  15. Nominating Candidates • Joint lists sometimes banned – facade parties. • Cost of forming a party • Signatures • Bolivia (certified by a notary)

  16. The Vote • Single- vs. multi-ballot • Various ways of voting • Checking a box • Writing the candidate’s name • Pulling a lever • Punch holes

  17. The Vote • For what do the voters vote ? • Candidates • Lists • Both, or a choice between the two • Number of votes to cast • Anywhere between one to the number of competing candidates/lists

  18. The Vote • What seat-relevant vote totals are affected by the voters vote? • Allocation among candidates • Allocation among parties (Finland) • Allocation among cartels (Poland) • An exclusive candidate vote: Benefits only that candidate. (US, UK, etc.) • A non-exclusive candidate vote: Benefits more than one seat-relevant vote total

  19. Non-exclusive votes • The transferable vote: May transfer between candidates (Ireland, Australia) • The pooling vote: Vote cast for candidate but determines party’s vote share (Finland, Poland, Brazil) • Fused vote: A single-vote for different offices (Uruguay).

  20. Multiple votes • Plumbing: Voters have several votes but need not use all of them • Panachage: Voters may split their votes across party lines • Cumulative: May cast more than one vote for a candidate (also known as a block vote)

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