3 ms·
The problem is trying to mix a proportional system with a representative one where each district elects one member of parliament, which then has to fit in with
by claudius 13y ago
The problem is trying to mix a proportional system with a representative one where each district elects one member of parliament, which then has to fit in with the results from the proportional system. In theory, this would allow for all districts to elect members of party A directly (first vote in Germany) and vote for party B in the second vote. You would then be faced with the impossible problem of fitting the 299 members of party A into a parliament that is – by the outcome of the proportional vote – supposed to be 100% party B.
In my opinion, the best way to combine direct election of members of parliament with a somewhat proportional representation is preferential voting, attempted in the UK as ‘Alternative Vote’.
- mxfh 13y agoAlso this used to enable a significant negative vote weight effect. Where voting for your preferred party with your second vote could actually make them lose seats if your party had more overhang mandates through direct first votes than through the proportional second vote. This was ruled unconstitutional by the Bundesverfassungsgericht in 2008 and the law was eventually changed. The current voting law in effect in 2013 reduced the effect but it's still there. So to balance those overhang seats, balancing seats are introduced which might increase the number of total seats beyond the originally intended number by quite a significant amount. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_vote_weight http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_vote_weight