The binomial electoral system is a proportional electoral system for multi-member districts with open lists of candidates . To calculate the results, the D'Ondt method is used.
It was invented in Poland in the 1980s. It was also used in Chile during the reign of Pinochet and later (until 2013).
Most analysts considered the binomial electoral system only an obstacle to the transition from authoritarianism to democracy .
Content
- 1 Method of calculation
- 1.1 Examples
- 1.2 Practice
- 2 Advantages and disadvantages
- 2.1 Benefits
- 2.2 Disadvantages
- 3 Use
- 4 Literature
Counting Method
Parties and independent candidates should form lists of candidates. Each list must provide up to two candidates for each constituency.
Voters vote for the candidates, but their votes go to the list as a whole. In order for all 2 places to receive one list, at least 2 times more voters must vote for it than for the list taking the second place. Otherwise, the list that won first place will receive only one mandate, and the other will receive second place. In this case, the candidate who scored the most votes will take the place of each list.
Thus, the first and second places receive equal representation if the first place does not receive 2 times more votes than the second.
Examples
| Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 | Option 4 | |
| List 1 | 40% | fifty % | 60% | 39% |
| Candidate 1A | 30% [fav.] | 30% [fav.] | 50% [fav.] | 20% [fav.] |
| Candidate 1B | 10 % | twenty % | 10% [fav.] | 19 % |
| List 2 | 40% | thirty % | thirty % | 33% |
| Candidate 2A | 22% [fav.] | 18% [fav.] | eighteen % | 18% [fav.] |
| Candidate 2B | eighteen % | 12 % | 12 % | fifteen % |
| List 3 | twenty % | twenty % | 10 % | 28% |
| Candidate 3A | eleven % | eleven % | 6% | 26% |
| Candidate 3B | 9 % | 9 % | four % | 2% |
- The most common cases are similar to option 2 in the table. List 1 received more votes than block 2, but these blocks send the same number of candidates (1A and 2A). This ignores the fact that candidate 1B received more than 2A.
- The same will happen with the same number of votes ( option 1 ). Thus, the distribution of votes does not matter if the ratio of votes for block 1 and block 2 (or vice versa) is less than 2: 1.
- In this case ( option 3 ), block 1 will send two candidates from itself (1A and 1B). At the same time, it does not matter how many votes the candidate 1B scored. In the example, he takes the fourth place, but goes to the elected authority ahead of candidates 2A and 2B.
- In option 4, candidate 3A received the majority of the vote, but he will not go to the body due to the fact that the votes are associated with the bloc and not with the candidate: candidate 3B received only 2% and “pulls” candidate 3A down.
As can be seen, disproportionate representation is formed in options 2-4.
Also, the binomial system contributes to a bipartisan system.
Practice
| Concertación Democrática | Alianza | Juntos Podemos Más | Fuerza regional Independiente | |||||
| Binomial | 65 m. | 54.2% | 54 m. | 45.0% | 0 m | 0,0% | 1m. | 0.83% |
| Majority | 69 m. | 57.5% | 50 m | 41.6% | 0 m | 0,0% | 1m. | 0.83% |
| Proportional | 62 m. | 51.6% | 46 m. | 38.3% | 9 m | 7.5% | 1m. | 0.83% |
Advantages and disadvantages
Benefits
The binomial electoral system helps stabilize the political situation in the country, making it almost impossible for one party to make decisions alone. Her supporters also argue that she builds the ability of political forces to find consensus through negotiations. Also, they consider the advantage of passing candidates who received a minority of votes.
Weaknesses
The main drawback is the fact that the candidate with the most votes may not go to the elected authority. This is a good example of the 2005 election in Chile: the Alianza party received about 38% of the vote, but took 45% of the seats. At the same time, the system excludes small batches and forces from the results.
Usage
The binomial electoral system was first applied in the parliamentary elections in Chile during Pinochet’s rule.
This system was also used in Poland in the 1980s as part of the Wojciech Jaruzelski regime, where it was invented for political stabilization, while maintaining the superiority of the Polish United Workers Party over the growing opposition movement .
Literature
- Siavelis, Peter M.: La logica oculta de la selección de candidatos en las elecciones parlamentarias chilenas ", en Estudios Públicos , No.98 (2005), pp. 189-225.
- Von Baer, Ena: " Sistema Binomial: Consensos y disensos , en Reforma al Sistema Binomial chileno