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Proportional Representation
Context:
In the recently concluded Lok Sabha election, the results sparked a debate between the first-past-the-post system and proportional representation.
More on News:
In India First past the post-election (FPTP) is used as a method of direct elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
About First past the post-election (FPTP):
It is a voting system used in constituencies where the candidate with the most votes wins the election even if they do not get a majority (50%+1) of the votes.
- Merits of FPTP:
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- Simple and Familiar Voting Method: It is easier to understand and conduct compared to other voting methods like Proportional Representation (PR) in India.
- Close MP-Constituency Relationship: FPTP fosters a close relationship between the MP and their constituents, allowing voters to hold their MP accountable.
- Promotes stable governments: The FPTP system confers greater stability to the executive of the ruling party or coalition.
- As the party did not need to receive more than 50% of the total votes across constituencies.
- Demerits of FPTP:
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- Under Representation: It may result in over or under-representation of political parties when compared to their vote share.
- After independence, the Congress party won close to 75% of seats in the then Lok Sabha with a 45-47% vote share.
- Communal Divide: May leads to the communal division of votes, where voters from different social groups vote along communal lines, resulting in a lack of representation for diverse voices.
- Lack of Representation for Smaller Parties: Smaller parties have lesser chances of winning and are often forced to align with national parties.
- Under Representation: It may result in over or under-representation of political parties when compared to their vote share.
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- Leading to a lack of representation of diverse voices.
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About Proportional representation (PR):
In this system, Seats are allocated in proportion to the vote share each party receives.
- Types of Proportional Representation:
- Single Transferable Vote (STV): This system is used in Malta and the Australian Senate.
- Voters rank candidates in order of preference, and seats are allocated based on the number of votes each candidate receives.
- Surplus votes are transferred to other candidates until all seats are filled.
- Party List PR: Voters vote for the party (and not individual candidates) and then the parties get seats in proportion to their vote share.
- The seats that a party wins are allocated to its candidates in the order in which they appear on the party list.
- This system is followed in Italy and Sweden.
- Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMPR):
- Under this system, there is one candidate who is elected through the FPTP system from each territorial constituency and there are also additional seats that are filled based on various parties’ percentage of votes. Followed in:
- In Germany, out of the 598 seats in the Bundestag:
- 299 seats (50%) are filled from constituencies under the FPTP system.
- The balance of 299 seats (50%) are filled by apportioning them amongst parties that secure at least 5% of votes, based on their percentage of votes.
- New Zealand, of the total 120 seats in the House of Representatives:
- 72 seats (60%) are filled through the FPTP system from territorial constituencies.
- The balance of 48 seats (40%) are allotted to various parties that secure at least 5% votes, based on their vote share.
- In Germany, out of the 598 seats in the Bundestag:
- Under this system, there is one candidate who is elected through the FPTP system from each territorial constituency and there are also additional seats that are filled based on various parties’ percentage of votes. Followed in:
- Single Transferable Vote (STV): This system is used in Malta and the Australian Senate.
- Merits of Proportional Representation (PR):
- Increased Competition: Proportional representation systems encourage competition and better representation, as smaller parties have a better chance of winning seats.
- Reduces gerrymandering: Proportional representation makes it harder to manipulate electoral boundaries to favour a particular party.
- As the allocation of seats is based on overall vote share rather than local results.
- Demerits of Proportional Representation (PR):
- Instability: It could potentially result in instability as no party /coalition may obtain a majority to form the government in a parliamentary democracy.
- Frequent Elections: The proportional Representation system may lead to a high frequency of elections, as seen in Israel with the country facing three elections in 2019 alone.
- Regional divide: It may result in the proliferation of political parties based on regional, caste, religious and linguistic considerations that may promote casteist or communal voting Patterns.
Way Forward:
- The law commission in its 170th report, ‘Reform of the electoral laws’ (1999), had recommended the introduction of the Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) system on an experimental basis.
- It had suggested that 25% of seats may be filled through a PR system by increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha.
- The MMPR system aligns with India’s parliamentary democracy, offering stability and equitable representation for all parties based on their vote share.
- This strategy would enhance the representation of smaller parties and regional voices in the legislature, fostering a more diverse and inclusive government.
- Alternatively, the MMPR system could be implemented for the new seats added during delimitation, or for at least 25% of the total seats per State/UT.