Social:Majoritarian representation

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Short description: Winner-take-all electoral systems


A majoritarian electoral system is an electoral system where the candidate with the most votes takes the seat using the winner-takes-all principle and in this way provides majoritarian representation. However, there are many electoral systems considered majoritarian based on different definitions, including types of at-large majoritarian representation such as block voting or party block voting (general ticket), but district-based majoritarian systems such as first-past-the-post voting (FPTP/SMP). Where two candidates are in the running, the one with the most votes will have a majority, but where there are three or more candidates, it often happens that no candidate takes a majority of the votes (see Plurality (voting)).

Majoritarian representation is applied here to mean district contests, not overall representation. It does not mean the party with the most votes will receive a majority of seats, but under First past the post the party with the most votes does usually take a majority of the seats. Common arguments for or against such systems usually take this into account. One example of a non-plurality (true-majoritarian) winner-takes-all system is Instant-runoff voting.[1] Many consider majoritarian systems to be undemocratic due to their disproportional results, as opposed to systems of proportional representation or justified representation, which aim to provide equal power to votes.

Definition and types

A common, loose definition of modern majoritarian systems is that such electoral systems which aims to provide the winning party (the party with a majority of plurality of votes) with enough seats to have a governing majority in an assembly, or at least one which generally favours strong parties disproportionally (as opposed to proportional representation, which generally aims to provide equal representation for every vote). This definition is more often used in non-scientific discussions about electoral systems.

Pie charts plurality (left) and majority (right)

The stricter definition of majoritarian representation is the winners of the election according to the voting system get (may force) all seats up for election in their district, denying representation to all minorities. By definition all single-winner voting systems provide majoritarian representation (but not all use a plurality/majority rule). For multi-winner elections, like electing an assembly of representatives, either the whole assembly can be elected with the whole electorate constituting a single electoral district (at-large majoritarian representation) or the electorate can be divided into majoritarian districts, most often single-member districts (SMDs). Today, the term majoritarian representation on its own refers to systems where the majoritarian principle used in local districts, as these are widely used worldwide.

Majoritarian representation does not mean the party with a plurality or majority always receive a majority of seats, as this is not guaranteed (see Hung parliament) and sometimes the party receiving the most votes get fewer seats than the party with the second most votes (see electoral inversion/majority reversal). This is because modern majoritarian systems use districts, but also because most majoritarian systems focus on individual candidates, instead of political parties. For the systems under which the (relative or absolute) majority wins the election see plurality or majority rule.

Popular vote and proportional representation
Party Party name A B C D Proportional party list example 100seats.svg If the assembly were elected using an at-large (nationwide) party-list proportional representation, the number of seats won by each party would correspond to their share of the popular vote.
Popular vote Vote (%) 44 40 10 6
At-large proportional representation Seats under party-list PR 44 40 10 6
Majoritarian systems
Type of electoral system Electoral system Party Seat distribution Explanation of example
A B C D
At-large majoritarian party block voting (PBV) 100 0 0 0 Majoritarian at large example 100seats.svg If the whole assembly is elected in a single (nationwide) constituency under party block voting using the plurality rule, the party with the highest number of votes always wins all seats.
Multi-member district majoritarian party block voting (PBV) 40 60 0 0 Majoritarian mmd example electoral inversion 100seats.svg If the assembly is elected in multi-member districts (e.g. five districts with 20 seats each) using party block voting single (nationwide) constituency under party block voting using the plurality rule, the party with the highest number of votes wins all seats in a district. However, the party with the highest number of votes nationwide might not win the most seats nationwide, as shown here (electoral inversion). A real-world example is the US Electoral College.
Single-member districts first-past-the-post voting (FPTP/SMP) 64 33 0 3 Majoritarian fptp example 100seats.svg If the assembly is elected in single-member districts using the first-past-the-post (single-member plurality) method, the candidate with the highest number of votes wins (the only) seat in their district. Often, the party with the highest number of votes wins in a landslide as shown here, but electoral inversion is still possible, as well as the case where no party receives an outright majority of seats (called a hung parliament in the UK).

The principle of majoritarian democracy does not necessarily imply that a majoritarian electoral system needs to be used, in fact, using proportional systems to elect legislature usually better serve this principle as such aims to ensures that the legislature accurately reflects the whole population, not just the winners of the election and the majority rule is then used within the legislature. The most widely accepted modern views of representative democracy no longer consider majoritarian-at-large representation to be democratic. For this reason, nowadays majoritarian representation is most often used in single-winner districts, which allows nationwide minorities to gain representation if they make up a plurality or majority in at least one district, but some also consider this anti-democratic because of the possibility of an electoral inversion (like in the case of some US presidential elections: 2000, 2016).

Majoritarian and proportional systems are the most commonly used voting system worldwide, followed by mixed electoral systems. which usually combine majoritarian and proportional representation, although there are mixed system that combine two majoritarian systems as well. Majoritarian representation is also contrasted with proportional representation, which provides for representation of political minorities according to their share of the popular vote and semi-proportional representation, which inherently provides for some representation of minorities (at least above a certain threshold). Within mixed systems, mixed-member majoritarian representation (also known as parallel voting) provides semi-proportional representation, as opposed to mixed-member proportional systems.

At-large majoritarian representation

Historically the first multi-winner electoral systems were majoritarian at-large, namely block voting, or more generally the multiple non-transferable vote.[citation needed]

Theory

The majoritarian right was upheld by a large and important group of scholars. Aristotle launched a theory which was later assumed by many Roman thinkers who said that quod maior pars curiae efficit, pro eo habetur ac si omnes egerint (the decision taken by the majority of the senators is valid as it would be approved by all). Jean-Jacques Rousseau, consequently to his concept of general will, said that la voix du plus grand nombre oblige toujours tous les autres (the voice of the greater number ever forces all people). Adhémar Esmein said that if the entire country was a single constituency, the electoral majority would have the right to appoint all the deputies, as it appoints the head of the executive power; even in its extreme consequencies, this system does not cause an injustice to the minority, because the majority obtains no more than its right.

Decline

Quite undisputed until the first half of the 19th century, the classic majoritarian system, sometimes referred as block voting, began to be more and more criticized when great ideological differences arose. Corrections were worldwide progressively introduced in two senses:

  • a first possibility was to reduce the size of the constituencies, so to divide the election in many local contests, and consequently increase the possibility for the minority to win in some areas. At-large elections were substituted by many multi-member constituencies and, finally, by single-winner electoral districts;
  • a second possibility was to introduce corrections even still voting at-large or, at least, in multi-member constituencies:
    • the limited voting system allowed the electors to vote a number of candidates which was lower than the contesting seats (limiting the multiple vote);
    • the cumulative voting system allowed the electors to concentrate their full share of votes on fewer candidates (keeping the multiple vote, but making it possible to rearrange them);
    • the single non-transferable vote was the extreme of the limited vote, the elector having a single choice in a multi-member race (abandoning the multiple vote but keeping the non-transferable property);
    • the preferential block voting system allowed the electors to rank the candidates, imposing a quota to be elected (keeping the multiple vote, but abandoning the non-transferable property);
    • the single transferable vote limits every voters value to one vote and also imposes a quota (abandoning both the multiple vote and non-transferable property with classical block voting, establishing proportional representation)

The version of block voting using electoral lists instead of individual candidates (general ticket or party block voting) was almost completely replaced by party-list proportional voting systems, which fully abandon the majoritarian criterion in favour of equal representation. However, with the majority bonus or majority jackpot types of mixed system, this type of majoritarianism at-large has partially reappeared in certain electoral systems.

Majoritarian districts

Majoritarian representation using single-winner districts is the most common form of pure majoritarian systems today, of which single-member plurality (SMP), which the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system used to elect members of an assembly is single-winner districts, is most widely used to elect legislatures.

However, due to high disproportionalities, it is also considered undemocratic by many. In Europe only Belarus and the United Kingdom use FPTP/SMP to elect the primary (lower) chamber of their legislature and France uses a two-round system (TRS). All other European countries either use proportional representation or use majoritarian representation as part of a mixed-member majoritarian system (Andorra, Italy, Hungary, Lithuania, Russia and Ukraine) or a mixed-member proportional system (Germany). However, other European countries also occasionally use majoritarian systems (apart from single-winner elections, like presidential or mayoral elections) for elections to the secondary chamber (upper house) of their legislature (Poland) and sub-national (local and regional) elections.

Majoritarian system are much more common outside Europe, particularly in the countries of the former British Empire, like Australia (IRV), Bangladesh, Canada, Egypt, India, Pakistan and the United States (FPTP/SMP).

Nowadays, at-large majoritarian representation is used for national elections only in the Senate of the Philippines, while it is sometimes still used for local elections organised on non-partisan bases. Residual usage in several multi-member constituencies is reduced to the election of the Electoral college of the President of the United States. Block voting is also used to elect a part of the assemblies in the regional elections in Italy and France (in these cases, the majoritarian quota is one of two parts of an additional member system) and in municipal elections for settlements below a population of 10000 people in Hungary.

Countries using majoritarian representation

Lower (or only) house of legislature chambers Upper house of legislature chambers (where applicable)
Electoral systems map majoritarian.svg
Electoral systems map for upper houses majoritarian.svg
Single-member constituencies: Other
  First past the post (FPTP/SMP)
  Two-round system (TRS)
  Instant-runoff voting (IRV)
  Varies by federal states or constituencies
  No direct election
  No information
Multi-member constituencies:
  Block voting (BV) or mixed FPTP/SMP + BV
  Party block voting / General ticket (PBV) or mixed (FPTP/SMP + PBV) or (FPTP/SMP + majority jackpot)

Below is a table of majoritarian systems currently used on a national level.[2][3] Single-winner elections (presidential elections) and mixed systems are not included, see List of electoral systems by country for full list of electoral systems.

Key:

  • Legislative body
    • Light blue background indicates upper houses of bicameral legislatures, in countries where such a chamber exists, the (usually more important) lower house might be elected with a majoritarian system as well (in which case it is also in the list) or in might be elected with a different system, in which case (the lower house) is not included in the list. See List of electoral systems by country for full list of electoral systems.
    • Light turquoise background indicates an electoral college elected by a majoritarian system, instead of a chamber of legislature.
  • Latest election (year), in most cases this election was held under the electoral system indicated, however if the next election is already scheduled to be held under a different system, the new system is indicated and the former system is listed under Notes.
  • Type of majoritarian system may be
    • block voting at-large
    • block voting via multi-member districts or coexistence of multi-member districts and single-winner districts
    • single-winner districts
    • or varies by state if different states may set their own system in federal countries
  • Constituencies indicates if the electoral districts are equivalent to or based on other administrative divisions of the country

Current use

Country Legislative body Latest election (year) Type of majoritarian system (Seats per

constituency)

Electoral system Total seats Constituencies Governmental system Notes
Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda House of Representatives 2023 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP)[citation needed] electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Australia Australia and its external territories House of Representatives 2022 single-winner districts Instant runoff voting (IRV) 151 electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Template:Country data Cocos (Keeling) Islands Cocos (Keeling) Islands 2021[citation needed] single-winner districts Instant runoff voting (IRV)[citation needed] 7 electoral districts[citation needed]
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan National Assembly (Milli Mejlis) 2020 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 125 electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system
The Bahamas Bahamas House of Assembly single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Bahrain Bahrain Council of Representatives 2018 single-winner districts Two-round system (TRS) 40 electoral districts[citation needed]
Bangladesh Bangladesh House of the Nation (Jatiyo Sangshad) 2018 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 350 (300 directly elected + 50 seats reserved for women) electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Barbados Barbados House of Assembly 2022 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 30 electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Belarus Belarus House of Representatives 2019 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 110 electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system Belarus used a two-round system before the 2016 election.
Belize Belize National Assembly 2020 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Bhutan Bhutan National Assembly 2018 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 47
National Council 2018 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 25 (20 directly elected + 5 appointed)[citation needed] electoral districts[citation needed]
Botswana Botswana National Assembly 2019 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 63 (57 directly elected + 4 members appointed by the governing party + 2 members ex officio: the President and the Attorney General) electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system
Brazil Brazil Senate 2022 block voting via multi-winner districts 1 or 2 (alternates each election) Plurality block voting (BV) and First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 81 States and the Federal district Presidential system
Cameroon Cameroon National Assembly 2020 block voting via multi-winner districts 1-7 Coexistence+conditional supermixed/hybrid:

First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) in single-member constituencies,

party with over 50% of vote gets all seats in multi-member constituencies (party block voting), otherwise highest party gets half, rest distributed by largest remainder (Hare quota)

180 electoral districts[citation needed]
Canada Canada House of Commons 2021 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 338 electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Central African Republic Central African Republic National Assembly 2020 single-winner districts Two-round system (TRS) electoral districts[citation needed]
Chad Chad National Assembly 2011 block voting via multi-winner districts Coexistence+conditional supermixed/hybrid:

First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) party with over 50% of vote gets all seats in multi-member constituencies (party block voting), otherwise List PR (largest remainder, closed list)[4]

188 electoral districts[citation needed]
Comoros Comoros Assembly of the Union 2020 single-winner districts Two-round system (TRS) 33 (24 directly elected + 9 elected by lsland assemblies) electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system
Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo National Assembly 2022 single-winner districts Two-round system (TRS) electoral districts[citation needed]
Ivory Coast Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) National Assembly 2021 block voting via multi-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) in single-member districts and party block voting (PBV) in multi-member districts 255 electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system
Cuba Cuba National Assembly of People's Power 2018 single-winner districts Two-round system (Endorsement of selected candidates) electoral districts[citation needed]
Czech Republic Czech Republic Senate 2022 single-winner districts Two-round system (TRS) 27[citation needed] electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Djibouti Djibouti National Assembly 2023 mixed-member majoritarian 3-28 Fusion / majority jackpot (MBS):

80% of seats (rounded to the nearest integer) in each constituency are awarded to the party receiving the most votes (party block voting), remaining seats are allocated proportionally to other parties receiving over 10% (closed list, D'Hondt method)

65 regions Presidential system
Dominica Dominica House of Assembly 2022 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 32 (21 directly elected, 9 appointed + Speaker + 1 ex officio)[citation needed] electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Dominican Republic Dominican Republic Senate 2020 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP)[citation needed] 32 31 provinces and the Distrito Nacional Presidential system
Eritrea Eritrea National Assembly never held (postponed since 2001) single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP)[citation needed] electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system
Eswatini Eswatini House of Assembly 2018 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP)[citation needed] 70 (59 directly elected) electoral districts[citation needed] Absolute monarchy
Ethiopia Ethiopia House of People's Representatives 2021 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
France France and its overseas collectivities and territories France National Assembly 2022 single-winner districts Two-round system (TRS) 577 electoral districts[citation needed] Semi-presidential system
French Polynesia French Polynesia Assembly 2023 mixed-member majoritarian 4-17 Two-round majority bonus system (MBS) in multi-member constituencies 57 electoral districts
New Caledonia New Caledonia 2019 single-winner districts Two-round system (TRS)[citation needed] 54
Gabon Gabon National Assembly 2018 single-winner districts Two-round system (TRS) electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system
The Gambia Gambia National Assembly 2022 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 58 (53 directly elected)[citation needed] electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system
Ghana Ghana Parliament 2020 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system
Grenada Grenada House of Representatives 2022 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 15 electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Haiti Haiti Chamber of Deputies 2021 single-winner districts Modified two-round system (TRS), more than 50% result or more than 25% lead required to win in the first round electoral districts[citation needed] Semi-presidential system
Senate 2021 single-winner districts 10 seats up for electionin each general election Two-round system (TRS) 30 Semi-presidential system
India India House of the People (Lok Sabha) 2019 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 545 (543 directly elected + the President appoints two members from the Anglo-Indian community if he believes that community is under-represented) electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Iran Islamic Republic of Iran Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) 2020 block voting via multi-winner districts Modified two-round block voting (BV) in multi-member districts, modified two-round system (TRS) in single-member districts (25% of votes required to win in 1st round in every constituency) 290 (285 directly elected) electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system
Assembly of Experts block voting via multi-winner districts 1-16 Plurality block voting (BV) Presidential system
Jamaica Jamaica House of Representatives 2020 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Kenya Kenya National Assembly 2022 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 350 (337 directly elected + other seats appointed by parties proportional with seats already won or ex officio)[citation needed] 290 electoral districts,[citation needed] 47 seats reserved for women, elected from single-member constituencies based on the 47 counties of Kenya Presidential system
Kiribati Kiribati House of Assembly 2020 block voting via multi-winner districts 1-3 Two-round block voting (BV) in multi-member districts, two-round system (TRS) in single-member districts (50% of votes required to win in 1st round in every constituency) 46 (44 directly elected + 1 delegate from Banaba Island and 1 ex officio) electoral districts[citation needed]
North Korea Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) Supreme People's Assembly 2005 Two-round system (TRS) [citation needed] 687
Laos Laos National Assembly 2021 block voting via multi-winner districts 5-19 Plurality block voting (BV) 164 (149 directly elected)[citation needed] provinces
Liberia Liberia House of Representatives 2017 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 73 electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system
Senate single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) Presidential system
Malawi Malawi National Assembly 2019 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system
Malaysia Malaysia House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat) 2022 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 222 electoral districts within the states and federal territories of Malaysia Parliamentary system
Maldives Maldives People's Majlis 2019 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system
Mali Mali National Assembly 2020 block voting via multi-winner districts Two-round block voting (BV) in multi-member districts, two-round system (TRS) in single-member districts (50% of votes required to win in 1st round in every constituency) electoral districts[citation needed]
Marshall Islands Marshall Islands Legislature 2019 block voting via multi-winner districts 1-5 First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) in single-member constituencies (19 seats) and Plurality block voting (BV) in multi-member constituencies (14 seats) 33 electoral districts[citation needed]
Mauritius Mauritius National Assembly 2019 block voting via multi-winner districts 2-3 Plurality block voting (BV) 70 (62 directly elected + 8 'best losers' appointed) electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Federated States of Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia Congress 2023 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 14 electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system
Mongolia Mongolia State Great Assembly (Khural) 2020 block voting via multi-winner districts 1-5 Two round plurality block voting (BV) candidates have to get at least 28% of the votes in a district to get elected. If there are unfilled seat, a runoff is held with twice the number of candidates as there are unfilled seats[5] 76 electoral districts[citation needed] Semi-presidential system
Myanmar Myanmar House of Representatives (Pyithu Hluttaw) 2020 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 440 (330 directly elected) electoral districts[citation needed]
House of Nationalities (Amyotha Hluttaw) 2020 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 224 (168 directly elected) electoral districts[citation needed]
New Zealand Realm of New Zealand (overseas territories) Cook Islands Cook Islands 2022 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 24 electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Niue Niue Assembly 2023 block voting via multi-winner districts 1 (local districts), 6 (nationwide constituency) Parallel voting / superposition:

First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 14 seats + Plurality block voting 6 seats

20 electoral districts[citation needed]
Tokelau Tokelau 2020 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 22 electoral districts in the 3 villages
Nigeria Nigeria House of Representatives 2023 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 360 electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system
Senate 2023 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 109 3 electoral districts in each state and one for the Federal Capital Territory Presidential system
Oman Oman Consultative Assembly 2019 block voting via multi-winner districts 1-2 First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) in single-member districts and Plurality block voting (BV) in two-seat districts 86 electoral districts[citation needed]
Pakistan Pakistan National Assembly 2018 mixed-member majoritarian 1 (local districts), 60 (seats reserved for women), 10 (seats reserved for religious minorities) First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) for 272 seats + 70 members appointed by parties proportional with seats already won 342 electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Palau Palau House of Delegates 2020 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 16 single-member constituencies based Presidential system
Senate single-winner districts 13 Plurality block voting (BV) 13 single nationwide constituency Presidential system
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea National Parliament 2022 single-winner districts Instant runoff voting (IRV) - modified (at most 3 preferences, two tiers) 111 89 elected from "open" seats and 22 from provincial seats based on the twenty provinces Parliamentary system
Senate 2022 block voting at-large 12 (alternating elections) Plurality block voting (BV) 24 single nationwide constituency Presidential system
Poland Poland Senate single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 100 electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Qatar Qatar Consultative Assembly 2021 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 45 (30 directly elected) electoral districts[citation needed]
Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis National Assembly 2020 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 15 (11 directly elected) electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Saint Lucia Saint Lucia House of Assembly 2021 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 17 electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines House of Assembly 2020 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 23 (15 directly elected) electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Samoa Samoa Legislative Assembly (Fono) 2021 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 51 electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
San Marino San Marino Grand and General Council 2019 mixed-member majoritarian 60 Majority jackpot system (35 seat jackpot) 60 single nationwide constituency Assembly-independent diarchic directorial republic
Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Parliament 2018 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 146 (132 directly elected) electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system
Singapore Singapore Parliament 2020 block voting via multi-winner districts ? First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) in single member constituencies + party block voting group representation constituencies (PBV) 104 (93 directly elected) single member constituencies (SMCs) and a group representation constituencies (GRCs) Parliamentary system
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands National Parliament 2019 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 50 electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Switzerland Switzerland Council of States

All cantons, except:

2019 block voting via multi-winner districts 1-2 One-round (plurality) or two-round (majority) block voting[citation needed] 46 Cantons
Syria Syria People's Council 2020 block voting via multi-winner districts Party block voting (PBV) 250 electoral districts[citation needed] Semi-presidential system
Tonga Tonga Legislative Assembly 2021 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 26 (17 directly elected) electoral districts in 5 islands and nobility Parliamentary system
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago House of Representatives 2020 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 41 electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Turkmenistan Turkmenistan Assembly 2018 single-winner districts Two-round system (TRS)[citation needed] 125 electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system
Tuvalu Tuvalu Parliament 2019 block voting via multi-winner districts 2 Plurality block voting (BV) 16 electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Uganda Uganda Parliament 2021 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 529 (499 directly elected) electoral districts, 146 seats reserved for women Presidential system
United Kingdom United Kingdom and its devolved assemblies, Crown Dependencies and British overseas territories United Kingdom House of Commons 2019 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 650 electoral districts Parliamentary system
Anguilla Anguilla House of Assembly 2020 single-winner districts 1 (local districts), 4 (nationwide constituency) Majoritarian parallel voting / superposition:

First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) in local constituencies+ Plurality block voting (BV) nationwide

13 electoral districts[citation needed] and a single nationwide constituency Parliamentary system
Bermuda Bermuda House of Assembly 2020 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 36 electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Cayman Islands Cayman Islands Parliament 2021 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 19 [citation needed] electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system Block voting was used before the 2017 election
Falkland Islands Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly 2021 block voting via multi-winner districts 3-5 Plurality block voting (BV) 8 Stanley constituency and Camp constituency Parliamentary system
Bermuda Guernsey States of Deliberation 2020 block voting at-large 38 Plurality block voting, each voter has up to 38 votes 40 (38 directly elected) single nationwide constituency Parliamentary system
Isle of Man Isle of Man House of Keys 2021 block voting via multi-winner districts 2 Plurality block voting (BV) 24 electoral districts[citation needed] Parliamentary system
Jersey Jersey States Assembly 2018 block voting via multi-winner districts 1-4 (local districts), 4 (nationwide constituency) Majoritarian parallel voting / superposition:

First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) in single-member districts, Plurality block voting (BV) in multi-member districts seats + Plurality block voting (BV) nationwide

49 electoral districts[citation needed] and a single nationwide constituency Parliamentary system
Montserrat Montserrat Legislative Assembly 2019 block voting at-large 9 Plurality block voting, each voter has up to 9 votes 11 (9 directly elected) single nationwide constituency Parliamentary system
Saint Helena Saint Helena Legislative Council 2021 block voting at-large 12 Plurality block voting, each voter has up to 12 votes 15 (12 directly elected) single nationwide constituency Parliamentary system
Turks and Caicos Islands Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly 2021 block voting via multi-winner districts 1 (local districts), 5 (nationwide constituency) Majoritarian parallel voting / superposition:

First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) in single-member districts + Plurality block voting (BV) nationwide

21 (15 directly elected + 4 appointed + 2 ex officio) electoral districts[citation needed] and a single nationwide constituency Parliamentary system
British Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands House of Assembly 2019 single-winner districts 1 (local districts), 4 (nationwide constituency) Majoritarian parallel voting / superposition:

First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) in single-member districts + Plurality block voting (BV) nationwide

13 electoral districts[citation needed] and a single nationwide constituency Parliamentary system
United States United States and its territories United States House of Representatives 2020 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) in 45 states 435 electoral districts within states (congressional districts) Presidential system
Runoff (RV/TRS) in Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas (in case, if required for majority votes)
Instant-runoff (IRV/RCV) for Alaska (in the second half for its general election) and Maine
United States Senate 2020 single-winner districts 1 (alternating elections) First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) in 45 states 100 states Presidential system
Runoff (RV/TRS) in Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas (in case, if required for majority votes)
Instant-runoff (IRV/RCV) for Alaska (in the second half for its general election) and Maine
United States Electoral College 2020 varies by state 1-55 General ticket in 48 states based on the results of the first-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) and 2 states (Alaska and Maine) based on the results of the Instant-runoff (IRV/RCV) election(s)

Maine and Nebraska use the same method for 2 statewide electors, the remaining electors are chosen in congressional districts

538 states and Washington D.C.(except Maine and Nebraska, where the congressional districts also work as constituencies) Presidential system Alaska has used FPTP in the 2020 election, RCV/IRV will be used first in the next (2024) presidential election.
American Samoa American Samoa single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP)
Guam Guam single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP)
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Legislative Chamber 2020 single-winner districts Two-round system (TRS) 150 electoral districts[citation needed] second round is also held if turnout is lower than 33%
Vietnam Vietnam National Assembly 2021 block voting via multi-winner districts Two-round block voting system in multi-member constituencies (first round needs more than 50% to get elected, second round uses plurality) 500 electoral districts[citation needed]
Yemen Yemen House of Representatives 2003 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 301 electoral districts[citation needed]
Zambia Zambia National Assembly 2021 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) 167 (156 directly elected + 8 appointed by the President + 3 ex officio)[citation needed] electoral districts[citation needed] Presidential system

Former use

Countries that replaced majoritarian representation before 1990 are not (yet) included.

Country Legislative body Last use Type of majoritarian system Majoritarian electoral system (old system) Replaced by (new system) Governmental system Notes
Albania Albania 1991 single-winner districts Two-round system (TRS) Mixed-member proportional / additional member system (MMP/AMS)
Algeria Algeria 1991 single-winner districts Two-round system (TRS) Party-list proportional representation (List PR)
Cyprus Cyprus single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) Party-list proportional representation (List PR)
Denmark Denmark single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) Party-list proportional representation (List PR)
Fiji Fiji 2006 single-winner districts Instant runoff voting (IRV) Party-list proportional representation (List PR) Before 1999, plurality block voting and single member plurality were used
Hong Kong single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP)
Lebanon Lebanon 2012 block voting Party-list proportional representation (List PR)
Lesotho Lesotho 1998 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) Mixed-member proportional / additional member system (MMP/AMS)
Malta Malta single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) Single transferable vote (STV)
Moldova Moldova 1994 single-winner districts Two-round system (TRS) Party-list proportional representation (List PR)
Morocco Morocco 1993 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) Party-list proportional representation (List PR)
Netherlands Netherlands single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) Party-list proportional representation (List PR)
New Zealand New Zealand 1993 single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) Mixed-member proportional representation (MMP)
Portugal Portugal single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) Party-list proportional representation (List PR)
South Africa South Africa single-winner districts First-past-the-post (FPTP/SMP) Party-list proportional representation (List PR)
Togo Togo 2002 single-winner districts Two-round system (TRS) Party-list proportional representation (List PR)

See also

References

External links