Difference between revisions of "Proportional Representation"
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Alternative forms of PR, such as the one used in Ireland, allow voters to vote for the individual candidates in their constituency according to preference. Rather than ticking the box next to the desired candidate and ignoring the others, Irish voters can technically vote for every candidate on the ballot in order of prefrence - 1 to 10, or more, according to how many candidates there are. According to their resources, parties field as many candidates in as many constituencies as possible. | Alternative forms of PR, such as the one used in Ireland, allow voters to vote for the individual candidates in their constituency according to preference. Rather than ticking the box next to the desired candidate and ignoring the others, Irish voters can technically vote for every candidate on the ballot in order of prefrence - 1 to 10, or more, according to how many candidates there are. According to their resources, parties field as many candidates in as many constituencies as possible. | ||
Revision as of 14:06, March 21, 2007
Proportional Representation (PR) is a form of voting in where the number of seats on the governing body that each political party gets are determined by the percentage of votes that each party receives. In most PR systems, the state creates a national ballot on which all listed parties appear. Each party creates a manifesto which describes their political agenda and lists their members. Each party receives a number of seats directly proportional to the percentage of votes they received in the election. In most PR systems, the individual parties determine what members get the available seats each election. In many PR systems, the party with the majority seats forms a coalition government with a smaller party and their party leader becomes the prime minister.
Ireland - PR-STV
Alternative forms of PR, such as the one used in Ireland, allow voters to vote for the individual candidates in their constituency according to preference. Rather than ticking the box next to the desired candidate and ignoring the others, Irish voters can technically vote for every candidate on the ballot in order of prefrence - 1 to 10, or more, according to how many candidates there are. According to their resources, parties field as many candidates in as many constituencies as possible.
The population of the constituency determines how many seats in the legislature are available (in Ireland, 2, 3, 4 or 5) and a 'quota' is set, which is the target number of 'No.1' votes a candidate must reach to be elected. Once a candidate reaches the quota, his/her surplus votes are redistributed according to the preferences expressed on the ballot papers. This process is repeated until all the available seats are filled. Candidates who are found to be mathematically incapable of reaching the quota during each redistribution are eliminated. The system is known as 'Proportional Representation with the Single Transferrable Vote' or PR-STV.
Parties attempt to use this system to maximise their representation in each constituency - bigger parties run several candidates in each constituency, and a 'superstar' candidate who knows s/he'll get large support will encourage her/his supporters to give their second, third etc preference to colleagues on the party ticket. For example, this contributor's constituency, the 5-seat Dublin South East, is represented in the following way: 2 Fianna Fáil, 1 Fine Gael, 1 Labour and 1 Sinn Féin Deputy.
This system also allows minority parties and Independent candidates to achieve election, as voters can rate candidates according to the issues they support. The advantage for voters is that they are not required to make an 'either-or' choice between candidates. Single-party government is highly unlikely in Ireland.
Stallthedigger
