Comparing Electoral Systems: First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) vs. Proportional Representation (PR)
Context
- Following the recent declaration of Lok Sabha election results on June 4, a debate has arisen over India’s electoral system. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 293 seats with a 43.3% vote share, while the opposition bloc INDIA won 234 seats with a 41.6% vote share. Other regional parties and independents, who garnered approximately 15% of the votes, only managed to win 16 seats collectively. This has sparked discussions among experts advocating a shift to a proportional representation system.
Overview
First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) System
- Description: Also called the simple majority voting system, FPTP is an electoral method where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins.
- Usage: This system is prevalent in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and India.
- Mechanism:
Single-Member Districts: Each constituency elects one representative.
Plurality Wins: The candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of achieving an absolute majority.
Pros and Cons:
Advantages:
- Simplicity: Easy for voters to understand.
- Strong and Stable Governments: Often results in a clear winner, leading to stable governments.
- Direct Representation: Ensures geographic areas have dedicated representatives.
- Accountability: Representatives are accountable to their constituents.
Disadvantages:
- Disproportionality: Mismatch between the percentage of votes and seats won.
- Wasted Votes: Votes for losing candidates will not impact the election outcome.
- Minority Rule: A candidate can win with a minority of votes if the opposition is fragmented.
- Geographic Concentration: Parties with concentrated support can win more seats despite fewer votes overall.
- Gerrymandering: Can incentivize the drawing of boundaries to favor a party.
- Proportional Representation (PR) System
- Description: PR aims to allocate seats in the legislature in proportion to the number of votes each party receives, providing a more accurate reflection of voter preferences.
Mechanism:
- Party Lists: Voters cast votes for parties, which allocate seats to candidates based on vote share.
- Multi-Member Districts: Districts elect multiple representatives for proportional allocation.
- Thresholds: Minimum percentage of votes required for representation to avoid fragmentation.
Types of PR:
- List PR: Parties receive seats based on vote share, filled by candidates from the party’s list.
- Mixed-Member PR: Combines FPTP and PR. Voters cast two votes: one for a candidate, one for a party.
- Single Transferable Vote (STV): Voters rank candidates in order of preference, with votes transferred according to preferences.
Pros and Cons:
Advantages:
- Fair Representation: Accurate reflection of the electorate’s preferences.
- Minority Inclusion: Better representation for smaller parties and minority groups.
- Reduced Wasted Votes: Most votes contribute to the election outcome.
- Encourage Voter Turnout: Voters feel their vote has more impact.
Disadvantages:
- Coalition Governments: This can lead to unstable governments if coalition partners disagree.
- Complexity: More complex for voters and authorities.
- Fragmentation: This can result in a fragmented legislature, complicating the majority consensus.
- Weaker Constituency Links: Representatives may be less accountable in specific areas.
- Influence of Party Leadership: Centralizes power within party leadership.
International Practices
Presidential Democracies:
- Brazil and Argentina: Use party list PR systems.
Parliamentary Democracies:
- South Africa, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain: Use party list PR systems.
Germany:
- The Bundestag fills 50% of its seats through FPTP and the other 50% through PR, with a 5% vote threshold.
New Zealand:
- The House of Representatives fills 60% of its seats via FPTP and 40% through PR, with a 5% vote threshold.
Future Directions for India
Law Commission’s Recommendation (1999):
- Suggested introducing the Mixed-Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) system on an experimental basis, with 25% of seats filled through PR.
Upcoming Delimitation Exercise:
- A post-2026 census delimitation exercise would increase Lok Sabha seats, considering uneven population growth.
- Proportional seat allocations based solely on population may conflict with federal principles and disenchant certain states.
Potential Solutions:
• Implementing the MMPR system for incremental seats or 25% of seats from each state/UT could balance representation and address concerns of smaller states.