What is the ideal number of MPs per constituency in proportional representation? When choosing a proportional voting system, one of the most important decisions is the number of MPs each constituency elects – its ‘district magnitude. Posted 26 Nov 2021
Germany’s 2021 election: How Germans vote This is a guest post from Dylan Difford, as part of a series on elections, party systems and voting methods around the world. This Sunday (26th March), Germany goes to the polls to elect its... Posted 23 Sep 2021
First Past the Post has failed to give the most popular Canadian party the most seats Minority government on 32% of the vote is one thing, but it is another when it isn’t even the most popular minority that gets to be in charge. Posted 22 Sep 2021
How do elections work in Norway? Like most European countries, Norway first adopted proportional representation in the early 20th century, with this October representing 100 years since Norwegians elected their first proportional parliament. Posted 09 Sep 2021
Barriers to entry: How do electoral thresholds work? A common feature of many Party List PR systems is an electoral threshold – a pre-set bar that parties have to reach if they want to win seats. Posted 03 Sep 2021
Political football: Italy’s party problems go beyond its voting system In this guest post, Dylan Difford takes a look at Italy’s political system ahead of Sunday’s showdown. While PR-elected governments are the norm in the democratic world – and often more stable than First Past... Posted 09 Jul 2021
As New Yorkers vote in their first preferential primary, in the UK it is under threat Voters in New York City were able to participate in their first preferential voting (called Ranked Choice Voting or RCV in America) primaries this week, making it the largest-ever American electorate for a preferential voting... Posted 25 Jun 2021
The Two-Bloc System: Scandinavia’s Best Kept Secret? This is a guest post from Dylan Difford who has recently completed an MA in Politics at the University of Essex, focussing on party and voting systems in Britain and Europe. This week, people across... Posted 23 Jun 2021
The Netherlands is going to the polls, but how do Dutch elections work? Dutch voters have started going to the polls to vote in the general election to elect the 150 members of the House of Representatives, with incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte seeking a fourth term in... Posted 17 Mar 2021
How a landmark bill could enhance democracy in the US The 2020 US presidential election and down-ballot races were a success for democratic participation. The presidential race saw a record number of people – over 158 million US voters – turn out to vote and... Posted 16 Feb 2021