Proportional Representation

PRESENTATION By Aarya Kushe FYBALLB -A Roll no. 24565 PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION Proportional Representation is a type of voting system used for elections in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them. If one third of voters back a political party, the party’s candidates win roughly one-third of the seats. Today, proportional representation is the most common electoral system among the world’s democracies. TYPES OF PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION 1.Party List Voting 2.Mixed-Member Proportional Voting 3.Single Transferable Vote Or Choice Voting 1.PARTY LIST VOTING Legislators are elected in large, multi-member districts. Each party puts up a list or slate of candidates equal to the number of seats in the district. Independent candidates may also run, and they are listed separately on the ballot as if they were their own party (see below). On the ballot, voters indicate their preference for a particular party and the parties then receive seats in proportion to their share of the vote. So in a five-member district, if the Democrats win 40% of the vote, they would win two of the five seats. The two winning Democratic candidates would be chosen according to their position on the list. 2.MIXED-MEMBER PROPORTIONAL VOTING Mixed-member proportional representation goes by a variety of other names, including “the additional member system,” “compensatory PR,” the “two vote system,” and “the German system.” People cast votes on a double ballot–see the ballot below. First, on the left part of the ballot, they vote for a district representative. This part of the ballot is a single-member district plurality contest to see which person will represent the district in the legislature. The person with the most votes wins. Typically half of the seats in the legislature are filled in this way. So in a hypothetical 100-member state legislature, the winners of these district contests would occupy 50 of the seats. 3.SINGLE TRANSFER VOTE Currently this system is used to elect parliaments in Ireland and Malta. All candidates are listed in the same place on the ballot. Instead of voting for one person, voters rank each candidate in their order of choice. So if you like Campbell best, you would mark the “1” after his name. If you liked Gomez second best, you would mark “2” by his name, and so on. You can rank as few or as many as you want. This ballot illustrates the use of the AccuVote system used in Cambridge, Massachusetts to elect its city council and school board. Voters fill in the ranking numbers as they would for standardized tests taken in school, which allows for computerized vote counting and ballot transfers. ADVANTAGES Ensures Every Vote Counts: In PR every vote is counted towards allocating seats in parliament. This means that voters have a greater sense of participation in the democratic process. Diverse and Representative Government: Smaller parties and minority groups are more likely to be represented under a PR system, which can lead to a more diverse range of perspectives and ideas in Parliament. Reduces Gerrymandering: PR systems are less susceptible to gerrymandering, as distribution of seats is determined by the proportion of votes a party receives rather than by manipulating district boundaries. di DISADVANTAGES Unstable Governments: PR can lead to unstable governments as smaller parties and minority groups are more likely to be represented which can be difficult to form stable coalitions and govern effectively. More Complex: PR systems can be more complex than FPTP systems, making them more difficult for voters to understand and for governments to implement. Expensive: PR systems are expensive to operate, as a significant amount of resources and funds are required to conduct elections. Neglection of Local Needs: PR can lead to leaders prioritising party agendas over local needs, as multiple representatives share a constituency. CONCLUSION As India continues to evolve as a democracy, exploring electoral reformslike proportional representation and mixed member proportional representation can potentially lead to a more balanced and fair system. Implementing these changes thoughtfully, considering India’s unique federal and diverse nature, could enhance the democratic process and ensure that every vote really counts. THANK YOU By Aarya Kushe