electoral systems electoral systems women and elections the national democratic institute
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Electoral SystemsElectoral SystemsWomen and Elections
The National Democratic Institute
• Introductions• Ground rules• Ice breaker exercise
INTRODUCTIONS/INTRODUCTIONS/GROUND RULESGROUND RULES
Photo: NDI
ELECTORAL SYSTEMS ELECTORAL SYSTEMS OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES
• To understand the different types of electoral systems
• To increase awareness of the potential advantages and disadvantages to these systems from a gender perspective
ELECTORAL SYSTEMS ELECTORAL SYSTEMS TOPICSTOPICS
• Electoral Systems:o Proportional Representationo Majoritariano Mixed
Photo: Kathy Gest
KEY TERMSKEY TERMS• Electoral System• Proportional Representation• Majoritarian System• Open/Closed Party List• Gender Quota
Photo: NDI
What Do They Do?What Do They Do?
At the most basic level, electoral systems translate the votes cast in a general election into seats won by parties and candidates.
~ IDEA Electoral System Design Handbook
TYPES OF ELECTORAL TYPES OF ELECTORAL SYSTEMSSYSTEMS
MMP
Parallel
PROPORTIONAL PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATIONREPRESENTATION
Advantages
• Proportionality
• Encourage formation of parties
• Facilitate diverse representation
• Candidates need to get votes from all over, not just from a particular region
Disadvantages
• Coalition governments, which can be unstable
• Small parties have disproportionate power
• Accountability
• Multi-member districts• Parties create candidate lists• Voters select a party• Parties are allocated seats based
on percentage of vote received• “Open” or “closed” lists• Thresholds very important
PROPORTIONAL PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATIONREPRESENTATION
List PRList PR
BALLOT EXAMPLEBALLOT EXAMPLE
Photo: ACE Project
PROPORTIONAL PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATIONREPRESENTATION
List PRList PRAdvantages
• Reflects proportionality
• Allows smaller parties to compete
• Minority and women’s quotas are easier to implement
• Encourages developed parties
Criticisms
• Need more developed parties
• Requires greater coordination by parties, concentrates power in hands of central party organization
• Weakens link between parties and constituents
• Multi-member districts
• Results through series of vote counts
• If no one gets quota, candidate with lowest total votes is eliminated and votes redistributed
• Continues until all seats are filled
PROPORTIONAL PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATIONREPRESENTATION
Single Transferable Vote Single Transferable Vote (STV)(STV)
PROPORTIONAL PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATIONREPRESENTATION
Single Transferable Vote Single Transferable Vote (STV)(STV)Advantages
• Voters choose individuals and parties
• Fairly proportional results
• Strengthens party- constituent connection
Criticisms
• Complex/requires higher literacy
• Party members compete against each other
• Party with a plurality of votes can end up getting fewer seats
MAJORITARIANMAJORITARIAN
• Also known as “plurality system”
• Whoever wins the most votes, wins the election.
Photo: Marie-Eve_NDI-Pakistan
• First Past the Post• Two-Round System• Block Vote• Party Block Vote• Alternate Vote
MAJORITARIAN TYPESMAJORITARIAN TYPES
MAJORITARIANMAJORITARIANFirst Past the Post (FPTP)First Past the Post (FPTP)
• Citizens divided into districts cast a single vote for their candidate
• Whoever gets the most votes,
wins
• More typical of countries where a single individual represents a geographic area
MAJORITARIANMAJORITARIANFirst Past the PostFirst Past the Post
Advantages
•Simple
•Clear choices between candidates
•Encourages links between constituents and MPs
•Can foster more broad-based politics where there is not a majority ethnic group
Criticisms
•Excludes smaller parties
•Can lead to exclusion of ethnic minorities
•Dependent on electoral boundaries (gerrymandering)
• Similar to FPTP; Candidates require absolute majority
• First round of FPTP voting. If someone gets a majority, s/he wins
• If not, some candidates may be eliminated and a second vote takes place
MAJORITARIANMAJORITARIANTwo-Round SystemTwo-Round System
MAJORITARIANMAJORITARIANTwo-Round SystemTwo-Round System
Advantages
• Gives voters a second chance
• Encourages bargains and tradeoffs
• Minimizes vote-splitting
Criticisms
• Expensive
• Similar disadvantages to FPTP
• Can trigger conflict
MAJORITARIANMAJORITARIANBlock VoteBlock Vote
• Multi-member districts
• Voters get as many votes as there are candidates—can use all, some or none
• “X” number of candidates with highest vote totals elected
MAJORITARIANMAJORITARIANBlock VoteBlock Vote
Advantages
• Voters can pick individuals
• Parties can have a more active role than in FPTP
• Rewards organized parties
Criticisms
• Can exaggerate FPTP problems
• Can fragment parties
•Candidate selection must produce a strategic number of candidates with broad appeal
MAJORITARIANMAJORITARIANParty Block VoteParty Block Vote
• Multi-member districts
• Parties build lists of candidates
• Voters choose party list not an individual
• Party list gets elected
Advantages
• Simple
• Encourages strong parties
• Can facilitate minority representation
Criticisms
• Suffers from problems of FPTP, particularly disproportionality
MAJORITARIANMAJORITARIANParty Block VoteParty Block Vote
• Single-member districts• Voters rank candidate preferences• If candidate secures an absolute
majority of first choice votes, s/he is elected
• If not, candidate with the lowest votes is eliminated, and votes reallocated
MAJORITARIANMAJORITARIANAlternative VoteAlternative Vote
Advantages
•Candidates must seek “first” and “second” votes of voters
•Can encourage compromise
• Avoids “tactical voting” in FPTP
Criticisms
•Complex/ requires higher level of literacy
•Centrist outcomes depend more on political context than electoral system
•Doesn’t work well with larger, multi-member districts
MAJORITARIANMAJORITARIANAlternative VoteAlternative Vote
BALLOT EXAMPLEBALLOT EXAMPLE
Photo: ACE Project, International IDEA Handbook (2005)
ELECTORAL SYSTEM ELECTORAL SYSTEM DIMENSIONSDIMENSIONS
• District Size• District Magnitude• Threshold• Party vs. Candidate• Quotas
Photo: Kathy Gest
DISTRICT SIZE AND DISTRICT SIZE AND MAGNITUDEMAGNITUDE
• Single or multiple districts?• Number of representatives
elected per district (district magnitude)
Photo: Megan Doherty, NDI
PARTY LISTS AND PARTY LISTS AND THRESHOLDTHRESHOLD
• Open vs. Closed Lists• Higher thresholds tend to result in
more women elected
• Party vs. Candidate• Quotas
OTHER ELECTORAL OTHER ELECTORAL SYSTEM DIMENSIONSSYSTEM DIMENSIONS
Photo: lrobinsonNDI
EXERCISEEXERCISE
In small groups, discuss the pros and cons of your current
electoral system.
ELECTORAL SYSTEMS ELECTORAL SYSTEMS REVIEWREVIEW
Questions?Feedback?
• Electoral Systems:o Proportional Representationo Majoritariano Mixed
• Electoral System Dimensions
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