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