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Electoral systems reqmap Proportional representation (PR), sometimes referred to as full representation, is a class of voting system aimed at securing a close match between the percentage of votes that groups of candidates obtain in elections, and the percentage of seats they receive (e.g., in legislative assemblies).

PR is often contrasted to plurality voting systems, such as those commonly used in the United States and (much of) the United Kingdom, where disproportional seat distribution results from the division of voters into multiple electoral districts, especially "winner takes all" plurality ("first-past-the-post" or FPTP) districts.Methods of proportional representation Proportional representation allows all voters a degree of influence on the political process. Proportional systems typically use political parties as the measure of representation. For example, a party that receives 15% of the votes under such a system receives 15% of the seats. cite web|url=http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/polit/damy/articles/kolesar.htm |title=Communism, Race, and the Defeat of Proportional Representation in Cold War America |publisher=Mount Holyoke College |location=Massachusetts |date=1996-04-20 |first=Robert J. |last=Kolesar |accessdate=2010-05-12}}</ref> By contrast, the established parties in current US and UK elections can, and most often do, win control of the parliament with support from as little as 20-25% of eligible voters, at the cost of smaller parties.^[1] Different methods of proportional representation achieve either greater proportionality or a more determinate outcome.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

Partial proportionality

Some nations with proportional elections, like Israel and the Netherlands, have one electoral district only: the entire nation, and the entire pie is cut up according to the entire outcome. Most nations have district systems in place where more than one person is elected per district. The constituency or district magnitude (DM) of a system is therefore measured by the number of seats per constituency. The greater the number of seats in a constituency, the more proportional the outcome will be. PR applied to a single-member district (SMD) is by necessity majoritarian. If the constituency is in a jurisdiction using list PR in its multimember districts (MMDs) the winning candidate simply needs a plurality, otherwise called a simple or relative majority, of the vote to win, so that the election in the SMD is by first-past-the-post. If the constituency is in a jurisdiction using PR-STV in its MMDs, an absolute majority of 50% plus 1 will likely be the minimum required for victory (depending on which quota is used) so that the election in the SMD is by the alternative vote. Four elected officials per district delivers a threshold of 20% (1/M+1) to gain a single seat. However, constituency borders can still be gerrymandered to reduce proportionality. This may be achieved by creating "majority-minority" constituencies - constituencies in which the majority is formed by a group of voters that are in the minority at a higher level. Proportional representation with the entire nation electing the single body cannot be gerrymandered.

Multimember districts do not necessarily ensure that an electoral system will be proportional. The bloc vote can result in "super-majoritarian" results in which geographical variations can create majority-minority districts that become subsumed into the larger districts. Also, a party that does not run enough people to fill all the seats it wins may be given those unfilled seats. This is termed an underhang.

Some nations, with either exclusively proportional representation or—as is the case with Germany—additional member systems, require a party list to achieve an election threshold—a set minimum percentage of votes to receive any seats. Typically, this lower limit is between two and five percent of the number of votes cast. Parties who do not reach that support are not represented in parliament, making majorities, coalitions and thus governments easier to achieve. Proponents of election thresholds argue that they discourage fragmentation, disproportionate power, or extremist parties. Opponents of thresholds argue that they unfairly redirect support from minor parties, giving parties which cross the threshold disproportionate numbers of seats and creating the possibility that a party or coalition will assume control of the legislature without gaining a majority of votes.

The most common way of measuring proportionality is the Gallagher Index.

Center based proportional and multi-party systems

Election systems based on proportional representation tend to favor a multi-party result which demands a coalition to form a government supported by a majority of the voters or elected candidates. If the election system as well as the mechanisms for forming a governing coalition also tend to support the existence of a centrist party, the resulting over-all system is often defined as a "center-based proportional representation multi-party system". Election systems which tend to result in so-called two-block (many parties forming coalitions, blocks, but with no party, or "block", in the "center") systems are not seen as "center-based" but multi-party variations of two-party (two-block) systems.

The undesirable "extreme" of a "Center Based" system (like in Condorcet method) might be seen as a party system where the "center" has an unproportional and undesirable strong position in the formation of any governing coalition.^{[clarification needed]}

List of countries using proportional representation

This is a list of countries using proportional representation at national level.

Country	Type
Algeria	Party list
Angola	Party list
Australia	For Senate only, Single Transferable Vote
Austria	Party list
Argentina	Party list
Aruba	Party list
Belgium	Party list
Bolivia	Mixed Member Majoritarian
Brazil	Party list
Bulgaria	Party list
Burkina Faso	Party list
Burundi	Party list
Cambodia	Party list
Cape Verde	Party list
Colombia	Party list
Costa Rica	Party list
Croatia	Party list
Cyprus	Party list
Czech Republic	Party list
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Mixed member proportional
Denmark	Party list
Dominican Republic	Party list
Equatorial Guinea	Party list
Estonia	Party list
Finland	Party list
Germany	Mixed member proportional
Greece	Party list (with plurality bonus)
Guinea-Bissau	Party list
Guyana	Party list
Hungary	Mixed Member Majoritarian
Iceland	Party list
India	For Upper House (Rajya Sabha) only, Single Transferable Vote by State Legislatures
Indonesia	Party list
Iraq	Party list
Ireland	Single Transferable Vote
Israel	Party list
Italy	Party list (with plurality bonus for coalitions)
Japan	Mixed Member Majoritarian
Latvia	Party list
Lesotho	Mixed Member Majoritarian
Liberia	Party list
Liechtenstein	Party list
Luxembourg	Party list
Malta	Single Transferable Vote
Mexico	Mixed Member Majoritarian
Moldova	Party list
New Zealand	Mixed Member Proportional
Namibia	Party list
Netherlands	Party list
Netherlands Antilles	Party list
New Caledonia	Party list
Nicaragua	Party list
Northern Ireland	Single Transferable Vote (for regional assembly only)
Norway	Party list
Paraguay	Party list
Peru	Party list
Poland	Party list
Portugal	Party list
Romania	Party list
Russia	Party list
San Marino	Party list
Sao Tome and Principe	Party list
Scotland	Additional Member System (for national assembly only)
Slovakia	Party list
Slovenia	Party list
South Africa	Party list
South Korea	Party list
Spain	Party list
Sri Lanka	Party list
Suriname	Party list
Sweden	Party list
Switzerland	Party list
Taiwan	Mixed Member Majoritarian
Thailand	Mixed Member Majoritarian
Turkey	Party list
Ukraine	Party list
Uruguay	Party list
Venezuela	Party list
Wales	Additional Member System (for national assembly only)
Wallis and Futuna	Party list

Notes

^ McDonald, Dr. Michael. "United States Election Project > Voter Turnout". Fairfax, VA: George Mason University. Retrieved 2010-05-12.

New York Times, May 29, 1993, "Proportional Representation Suits School Elections" by Roland Nicholson, Jr.

External links

Proportional Representation Library
"Proportional representation" Center for Voting and Democracy
Handbook of Electoral System Choice
"Electoral Systems", World Policy Institute
Quantifying Representativity Article by Philip Kestelman
The De Borda Institute A Northern Ireland-based organisation promoting inclusive voting procedures
Electoral Reform Society founded in England in 1884, the longest running PR organization. Contains good information about Single Transferable Vote -the Society's preferred form of PR
Electoral Reform Australia
Proportional Representation Society of Australia
Fair Vote Canada
Voting methods survey Describes 19 multi-winner systems
Why Not Proportional Representation?
Vote Dilution means Voters have Less Voice Law is Cool site
Proportional Representation and British Democracy Debate on British electoral system reform

[1] McDonald, Dr. Michael. "United States Election Project > Voter Turnout". Fairfax, VA: George Mason University. Retrieved 2010-05-12.

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Electoral systems}}
+Electoral systems
-{{reqmap}}
+reqmap
-'''Proportional representation''' ('''PR'''), sometimes referred to as '''full representation''', is a class of [[voting system]] aimed at securing a close match between the percentage of votes that groups of candidates obtain in elections, and the percentage of seats they receive (e.g., in [[legislative assembly|legislative assemblies]]).
+Proportional representation''' ('''PR'''), sometimes referred to as '''full representation''', is a class of [[voting system]] aimed at securing a close match between the percentage of votes that groups of candidates obtain in elections, and the percentage of seats they receive (e.g., in [[legislative assembly|legislative assemblies]]).
-PR is often contrasted to [[plurality voting system]]s, such as those commonly used in the [[United States]] and (much of) the [[United Kingdom]], where disproportional seat distribution results from the division of voters into multiple electoral districts, especially "winner takes all" plurality ("[[first-past-the-post]]" or FPTP) districts.
+PR is often contrasted to [[plurality voting system]]s, such as those commonly used in the [[United States]] and (much of) the [[United Kingdom]], where disproportional seat distribution results from the division of voters into multiple electoral districts, especially "winner takes all" plurality ("[[first-past-the-post]]" or FPTP) districts.Methods of proportional representation
+Proportional representation  allows all voters a degree of influence on the political process. Proportional systems typically use political parties as the measure of representation. For example, a party that receives 15% of the votes under such a system receives 15% of the seats.
-== Methods of proportional representation ==
-Proportional representation  allows all voters a degree of influence on the political process. Proportional systems typically use political parties as the measure of representation. For example, a party that receives 15% of the votes under such a system receives 15% of the seats.<ref>{{
 cite web|url=http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/polit/damy/articles/kolesar.htm |title=Communism, Race, and the Defeat of Proportional Representation in Cold War America |publisher=Mount Holyoke College |location=Massachusetts |date=1996-04-20 |first=Robert J. |last=Kolesar |accessdate=2010-05-12}}</ref> By contrast, the established parties in current US and UK elections can, and most often do, win control of the parliament with support from as little as 20-25% of eligible voters, at the cost of smaller parties.<ref>{{
 cite web|url=http://elections.gmu.edu/Turnout.html |title=United States Election Project > Voter Turnout |publisher=George Mason University |location=Fairfax, VA |date= |first=Dr. Michael |last=McDonald |accessdate=2010-05-12}}</ref>
 Different methods of proportional representation achieve either greater proportionality or a more determinate outcome.<ref>{{
-cite web|url=http://news.scotsman.com/politics/Polling-systems-across-the-world.6038354.jp |title=Polling systems across the world and how they work - Scotsman.com News |publisher=News.scotsman.com |date= |accessdate=2010-05-08}}</ref>
+cite web|url=http://news.scotsman.com/politics/Polling-systems-across-the-world.6038354.jp |title=Polling systems across the world and how they work - Scotsman.com News |publisher=News.scotsman.com |date= |accessdate=2010-05-08}}[[Party-list proportional representation]] is one approach, in which the above-mentioned groups correspond directly with candidate lists from [[political party|political parties]]. The [[open list]] form allows the voter to influence the election of individual candidates within a party list. The [[closed list]] approach does not. Another variation is the [[single transferable vote]] (STV), which does not depend on political parties (and where the "measure of grouping" is entirely left up to the voters.) Elections for the [[Australian Senate]] use what is referred to as [[above-the-line voting]] where candidates for each party are grouped on the ballot, allowing the voter for the group or for a candidate.
-[[Party-list proportional representation]] is one approach, in which the above-mentioned groups correspond directly with candidate lists from [[political party|political parties]]. The [[open list]] form allows the voter to influence the election of individual candidates within a party list. The [[closed list]] approach does not. Another variation is the [[single transferable vote]] (STV), which does not depend on political parties (and where the "measure of grouping" is entirely left up to the voters.) Elections for the [[Australian Senate]] use what is referred to as [[above-the-line voting]] where candidates for each party are grouped on the ballot, allowing the voter for the group or for a candidate.
 Other variations include [[single non-transferable vote]] (SNTV),  [[cumulative voting]] and limited bloc voting (LBV), all of which offer a form of [[semi-proportional representation]] (SPR).
 The emphasis on political parties may reduce PR's effectiveness. [[Political parties in the United States|Political parties' influence is declining in countries such as the U.S.]], which in 2004 saw 24% of voters declaring themselves to be independent. In such polities, an alternative such as [[#loser delegation]] can achieve full representation in a different way.
+Party list system in a multi-member constituency{{Main|Party-list proportional representation}}The parties each list their candidates according to that party's determination of priorities. In '''closed list''' systems, voters vote for a list, not a candidate. Each party is allocated seats in proportion to the number of votes it receives, using the party-determined ranking order. In an '''open list''', voters may vote, depending on the model, for one person, or for two, or indicate their order of preference within the list.
+This system is used in many countries, including [[Finland]] (open list), [[Sweden]] (open list), [[Israel]] (where the whole country is one closed list constituency), [[Brazil]] (open list), the [[Netherlands]] (open list), [[South Africa]] (closed list), [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] (open list) and for elections to the [[European Parliament]] in most European Union countries (mostly open lists, with the exception of [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] and [[Northern Ireland]] using [[Single transferable vote]] and the remainder of the [[United Kingdom]] using closed lists).
-=== Party list system in a multi-member constituency ===
+Additional-member system, mixed-member system
-{{Main|Party-list proportional representation}}
-The parties each list their candidates according to that party's determination of priorities. In '''closed list''' systems, voters vote for a list, not a candidate. Each party is allocated seats in proportion to the number of votes it receives, using the party-determined ranking order. In an '''open list''', voters may vote, depending on the model, for one person, or for two, or indicate their order of preference within the list.
-* This system is used in many countries, including [[Finland]] (open list), [[Sweden]] (open list), [[Israel]] (where the whole country is one closed list constituency), [[Brazil]] (open list), the [[Netherlands]] (open list), [[South Africa]] (closed list), [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] (open list) and for elections to the [[European Parliament]] in most European Union countries (mostly open lists, with the exception of [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] and [[Northern Ireland]] using [[Single transferable vote]] and the remainder of the [[United Kingdom]] using closed lists).
-=== Additional-member system, mixed-member system ===
 :''Main articles: [[Additional Member System]]s - [[mixed member proportional representation]] and [[parallel voting]]; [[alternative vote]] and [[alternative vote top-up]]

Proportional representation: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:44, 19 July 2010

Partial proportionality

Center based proportional and multi-party systems

List of countries using proportional representation

Further reading

Books

Journals

News

See also

Notes

External links