Foundations of Comparative Politics - Study Notes on Elections and Electoral Systems

International Observers and Electoral Monitoring

International organizations like the Carter Center, OSCE, AU, OAS, and EU monitor elections to deter fraud. Their effectiveness is debated due to conflicting studies on preventing or displacing irregularities.

Effectiveness of Election Observation Missions

Some studies suggest lower irregularities in observed stations (Hyde 2007a, b), while others indicate fraud displacement (Ichino and Schiindeln 2012). Missions may understate fraud due to political pressures.

Institutional Design (Electoral Integrity)

Argument that power-sharing institutions enhance electoral integrity by creating checks and balances and encouraging minority participation, which critics argue can complicate accountability.

Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs)

Organizations responsible for administering elections and ensuring fairness. Their independence and technical capability are crucial, with opposition groups often incentivized to strengthen them.

Majoritarian Electoral Systems

Electoral systems where candidates or parties receiving the most votes win, even without necessarily achieving an absolute majority. They include SMDP, SNTV, AV, and TRS.

Single-Member District Plurality (SMDP) System

A majoritarian system used in countries like the UK, US, Canada, and India, where voters cast one vote, and the candidate with the most votes wins. It is simple but can lead to unrepresentative results and strategic voting.

Single Nontransferable Vote (SNTV)

A majoritarian system used in multi-member districts where voters choose one candidate, and the highest vote-getters are elected. It can favor smaller parties but encourages intraparty competition and clientelism.

Alternative Vote (AV)

A majoritarian system requiring candidates to obtain an absolute majority, where voters rank candidates by preference. If no majority initially, lowest candidates are eliminated, and votes redistributed.

Majority-Runoff Two-Round System (TRS)

A majoritarian system where voters select candidates, and if no one gets a simple majority in the first round, a runoff election is held between the top candidates. Common in presidential elections, it reduces strategic voting but has higher costs.

Proportional Electoral Systems

Electoral systems designed to achieve a direct correlation between the percentage of votes received by parties and the percentage of legislative seats they gain. List PR systems are a prominent example.

List PR Systems

A type of proportional electoral system where parties present lists of candidates, and seats are allocated based on the proportion of votes received in a district. District magnitude and electoral thresholds significantly influence proportionality.

Electoral Thresholds

The minimum percentage of votes a party needs to obtain to gain representation in a proportional electoral system. These thresholds affect party participation and can influence systemic fragmentation.