PNL UNIT 2: Preferential Proportional Voting

Define preferential proportional voting.

Ensures that parties and candidates win seats in proportion to the number of votes they receive.

Used in the Senate and WA legislative council.

What are the three key features of preferential proportional electoral systems?

• Multi member electorates

• Candidates are elected once they reach the vote quota

• Single Transferable Vote system (STV/PR): If a candidate gets more than the quota, they’re elected and their surplus votes go to other candidates based on preferences.

What is an example of the STV/PR?

South Australia half Senate election 2022

• Penny Wong received almost double the amount of first preference votes she needed to hit the quota

• Her extra votes were passed on to other Labor candidates based on voter preferences

Historical context of preferential proportional voting

• Pre-1949

• 1949

• Aim of change

• Pre-1949: senate used block voting (fptp but multi member), prevents small parties

• 1949:, adopted STV/PR

• Aim of change: To prevent large party dominance and encourage fairer representation

Three advantage of preferential proportional voting

• Fairer representation of the peoples wants

• Reduced vote wastage

• Encourages minor parties and independents

Three disadvantage of preferential proportional voting

• Complex counting process

• Members are less accountable to people because it is less clear who represents which voter

• Can lead to fragmentstion