electoral rep

Electoral Representation and Disproportionality

Introduction to Electoral Systems

  • Electoral Systems are methods used to translate votes into seats in legislative bodies.

  • Two key systems discussed: First Past the Post (FPTP) and Proportional Representation (PR).

Example of Disproportionality

Scenario Setup

  • 5 electoral districts with 5,000 voters each, for a total of 25,000 voters.

  • Party A wins in districts 1-4.

  • Party B wins in district 5.

Vote Count

  • Total votes: 14,000+ for Party B and <11,000 for Party A.

  • Vote Percentage: Party B = 57%; Party A = 43%.

Seat Allocation

  • Under the FPTP system: Party A gets 4 seats; Party B gets 1 seat.

  • Under a hypothetical PR system:

    • Allocation could be approximately 2 seats for Party A and 3 seats for Party B, aligning more closely with actual vote share.

Additional Example with Multiple Parties

Scenario Setup

  • 5 districts, 5 parties.

  • Analysis of overall votes and percentages.

  • If these parties were treated under a PR system, each would receive one seat, equating to 20% of total seats available.

FPTP Comparison

  • Using FPTP, outcomes would differ:

    • Party A