What electoral system does India use to elect the Lok Sabha? India, the largest democracy in the world, has a system of democratic federalism which has both large amounts of parties and Westminster-style First Past the Post (FPTP) voting. The Indian Federal government is made up... Posted 29 Sep 2022
Renewing democracy in an age of authoritarians (Labour Conference) Join us and IPPR to discuss how we can renew democracy in an age of authoritarians. Chair: Harry Quilter-Pinner, Director of Research and Engagement, IPPR Speakers: David Lammy MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign,... Posted 16 Sep 2022
How do elections work in Latvia? Latvia’s election this Saturday (1st October) has been in the calendar for a while – a referendum is required to dissolve the Latvian parliament early. Such a vote can be called either by the president,... Posted 15 Sep 2022
How do elections work in Sweden? Sunday 11th September is election day in Sweden – where voters can elect a new parliament and decide the make-up of the country’s regional and municipal councils – all Swedish political bodies are elected to... Posted 29 Aug 2022
How did the Republic of Ireland get proportional representation? Today, almost every election held on the island of Ireland uses the Single Transferable Vote (STV). Bar elections for the 18 Westminster seats from Northern Ireland – every other election, on both sides of the border,... Posted 10 Aug 2022
How did New Zealand get proportional representation? Prior to 1996, MPs were elected to New Zealand’s House of Representatives using the same unrepresentative First Past The Post (FPTP) system that is used to elect MPs to the UK’s House of Commons. Since... Posted 02 Aug 2022
Jersey’s new electoral system has first outing Two years ago, the Electoral Reform Society looked at the island of Guernsey’s new voting system where voters had to choose up to 38 candidates in a single island-wide ‘thirty-eight past the post’ election. But... Posted 23 Jun 2022
Do all countries have by-elections? Filling parliamentary vacancies around the world This Thursday (23rd June), voters in the constituencies of Tiverton and Honiton, and Wakefield go to the polls in by-elections caused by the scandal-related resignations of their previous MPs. By-elections allow voters to pick a... Posted 21 Jun 2022
How do elections work in Australia? British voters may have to wait up to five years for a general election, but, for Australians, the opportunity comes no later than every three. On Saturday 21st May, Australia’s House of Representatives and roughly... Posted 15 May 2022
How do elections work in the German States? Fresh off the heels of voters in Germany’s northernmost state of Schleswig-Holstein, this Sunday 15th May it is North-Rhine Westphalia’s turn to elect their state parliament or Landtag. With a population just shy of 18... Posted 09 May 2022