Electoral Systems

Women and Elections

The National Democratic Institute

INTRODUCTIONS/
GROUND RULES
Introductions
Ground rules
Ice breaker exercise

Photo: NDI

ELECTORAL SYSTEMS OBJECTIVES

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 TOPICS

Electoral Systems:
o Proportional Representation
o Majoritarian
o Mixed

Photo: Kathy Gest

KEY TERMS

Electoral System
Proportional Representation
Majoritarian System
Open/Closed Party List
Gender Quota

Photo: NDI

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 SYSTEMS

Parallel

MMP

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION
Advantages
Proportionality
Encourage formation of
parties
Facilitate diverse
representation
Candidates need to get
votes from all over, not
just from a particular

Disadvantages
Coalition governments,
which can be unstable
Small parties have
disproportionate power
Accountability

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

List PR

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

BALLOT EXAMPLE

Photo: ACE Project

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

List PR

Advantages
Reflects proportionality
Allows smaller parties to
compete

Criticisms
Need more developed
parties

Minority and womens

quotas are easier to
implement

Requires greater
coordination by parties,
concentrates power in
hands of central party
organization

Encourages developed
parties

Weakens link between parties

and constituents

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION
Single Transferable Vote (STV)
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 REPRESENTATION
Single Transferable Vote (STV)
Advantages

Criticisms

Voters choose individuals Complex/requires higher

and parties
literacy
Fairly proportional
results
Strengthens partyconstituent connection

Party members compete

against each other

Party with a plurality of

votes can end up getting
fewer seats

MAJORITARIAN
Also known as plurality system
Whoever wins the most votes, wins
the election.

Photo: Marie-Eve_NDI-Pakistan

MAJORITARIAN TYPES

First Past the Post

Two-Round System
Block Vote
Party Block Vote
Alternate Vote

MAJORITARIAN
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

MAJORITARIAN
First Past the Post
Advantages

Criticisms

Simple

Excludes smaller parties

Clear choices between

candidates

Can lead to exclusion of

ethnic minorities

Encourages links
between constituents
and MPs

Dependent on electoral
boundaries
(gerrymandering)

Can foster more broadbased politics where

there is not a majority
ethnic group

MAJORITARIAN
Two-Round System
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

MAJORITARIAN
Two-Round System
Advantages
Gives voters a second
chance
Encourages bargains and
tradeoffs
Minimizes vote-splitting

Criticisms
Expensive
Similar disadvantages to
FPTP
Can trigger conflict

MAJORITARIAN
Block Vote
Multi-member districts
Voters get as many votes as there are
candidatescan use all, some or none
X number of candidates with highest
vote totals elected

MAJORITARIAN
Block Vote
Advantages
Voters can pick
individuals

Criticisms
Can exaggerate FPTP
problems

Parties can have a more Can fragment parties

active role than in FPTP Candidate selection must
Rewards organized
produce a strategic number
parties
of candidates with broad
appeal

MAJORITARIAN
Party Block Vote
Multi-member districts
Parties build lists of candidates
Voters choose party list not an
individual
Party list gets elected

MAJORITARIAN
Party Block Vote
Advantages
Simple

Criticisms

Suffers from
problems of FPTP,
particularly
Encourages strong parties
disproportionality
Can facilitate minority
representation

MAJORITARIAN
Alternative 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

MAJORITARIAN
Alternative 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
Doesnt work well with
larger, multi-member
districts

BALLOT EXAMPLE

Photo: ACE Project, International IDEA Handbook (2005)

ELECTORAL SYSTEM
DIMENSIONS

District Size
District Magnitude
Threshold
Party vs. Candidate
Quotas
Photo: Kathy Gest

DISTRICT SIZE AND MAGNITUDE

Single or multiple districts?
Number of representatives elected
per district (district magnitude)

Photo: Megan Doherty,

NDI

PARTY LISTS AND THRESHOLD

Open vs. Closed Lists
Higher thresholds tend to result in
more women elected

OTHER ELECTORAL SYSTEM

DIMENSIONS
Party vs. Candidate
Quotas

Photo: lrobinsonNDI

EXERCISE
In small groups, discuss the pros
and cons of your current electoral
system.

ELECTORAL SYSTEMS REVIEW

Electoral Systems:
o Proportional Representation
o Majoritarian
o Mixed
Electoral System Dimensions
Questions?
Feedback?