Semi-proportional voting system is a way of voting that combines aspects of proportional and plurality voting.
Single Non-Transferable Vote (SNTV), Parallel (or mixed) systems, and the Limited Vote (LV) are some examples of semi-proportional voting.
Single Non-Transferable Vote (SNTV) is a type of semi-proportional voting system that involves electors. Each elector has one vote for multiple seats in a district. It was used in Japan’s lower house elections from 1948-1993 and the 1997 elections in Jordan. It is used in Taiwan’s Parliament elections in which 125 out of 161 seats are elected through SNTV.
For example, in a district that has four seats open and six candidates run, a person will rank their votes. From there, the first preference votes will be counted, and if that first preference reaches the quota (decided based on candidates running and number of seats available +1) +1 , then they will be the winner, and the votes that surpassed the quota will be distributed to the other candidates. Then, the voting will begin again, and whatever candidate has the least amount of votes, they will be kicked out. This will continue until the seats are filled.
SNTV helps minority parties become represented since it does not allow one dominant party to take all the seats in a district. Some of the negatives of the SNTV system is it increases power for smaller parties and complication in understanding the process.
Parallel voting is common in Africa and countries part of the former Soviet Union. There are two elections under parallel voting. It is a combination of First Past the Post and Proportional election processes.
It allows smaller parties to win seats due to proportional representation. However, parallel voting can account to large portions of disproportionality as some smaller parties may have the votes, but due to proportionality can lose representation.
Limited Voting is a mix between SNTV and block voting. Limited voting allows people to vote for individuals rather than parties, which gives more benefits to smaller political parties. One downside is that voters have less votes to cast than seats needed to be filled, similar to parallel voting. Today, it is used by Gibraltar. It was previously used in the United Kingdom from 1867 to 1885.
Single Non-Transferable Vote (SNTV), Parallel (or mixed) systems, and the Limited Vote (LV) are some examples of semi-proportional voting.
Single Non-Transferable Vote (SNTV) is a type of semi-proportional voting system that involves electors. Each elector has one vote for multiple seats in a district. It was used in Japan’s lower house elections from 1948-1993 and the 1997 elections in Jordan. It is used in Taiwan’s Parliament elections in which 125 out of 161 seats are elected through SNTV.
For example, in a district that has four seats open and six candidates run, a person will rank their votes. From there, the first preference votes will be counted, and if that first preference reaches the quota (decided based on candidates running and number of seats available +1) +1 , then they will be the winner, and the votes that surpassed the quota will be distributed to the other candidates. Then, the voting will begin again, and whatever candidate has the least amount of votes, they will be kicked out. This will continue until the seats are filled.
SNTV helps minority parties become represented since it does not allow one dominant party to take all the seats in a district. Some of the negatives of the SNTV system is it increases power for smaller parties and complication in understanding the process.
Parallel voting is common in Africa and countries part of the former Soviet Union. There are two elections under parallel voting. It is a combination of First Past the Post and Proportional election processes.
It allows smaller parties to win seats due to proportional representation. However, parallel voting can account to large portions of disproportionality as some smaller parties may have the votes, but due to proportionality can lose representation.
Limited Voting is a mix between SNTV and block voting. Limited voting allows people to vote for individuals rather than parties, which gives more benefits to smaller political parties. One downside is that voters have less votes to cast than seats needed to be filled, similar to parallel voting. Today, it is used by Gibraltar. It was previously used in the United Kingdom from 1867 to 1885.
Sources
- https://aceproject.org/main/english/es/esd02.htm
RESOURCES
| semi-proportionalvoting.pdf |