Quick glance at the electoral systems and elections

1. ELECTORAL
SYSTEMS
International Ataturk Alatoo University
Department of International Relations
Subject:Political Science and Political Theory II
Lecturer: Ibrahim Koncak
Student: Farida Umurzakova,
Group: IR-4

2. ELECTORAL
SYSTEMS

3. What is electoral system?
Electoral System of the state - rules determining which
people win office as a result of any participation in the voting
Single-
Member-
District
Plurality
(SMDP) System
Proportional
Representation
(PR) System

4. Single-Member-District Plurality
one represantative – each district (a
single member – each district-
plurality of votes)
Ex: Britain, USA, Canada, India
Favors large parties & hurts
small ones
Proovides a tie to a particular
locality
So what are the differences btw SMDP and PR
electoral systems?
Proportional Representation
Political parties representation
in the legislative body is
proportional to their strength in
electorate (18% - 18seats etc)
Electoral participation -
higher

5. House
of representatives
435
The Senate
50
The US Congress

6. TWO CONDITIONS FOR SMDP BIAS
The smaller the
number of districts,
the more likely it is
that small parties
will be hurt by SMDP
Ex: strong
presidency causes
one largy party
If a small party has
most of its strength
concentrated in just a
few districts, it may
not be hurt by the
SMDP system
Canada – not 2, but 5
major parties, little
pressure from SMDP

7. REFERENDUMS
“Power to people ”
Referendum allows voters to
choose directly in an election
whether a given policy should
be followed or not(mostly for
decisions of great gravity).
Ex: no
referendums on
national levels,
but sometimes-
local, state
levels

8. Electoral Participation
Country
Votes Country Votes
Great Britain 71% Germany 82%
USA
Hawaii
Minnesota
50%
40%
67%
Sweden 81%
Czech Republic 76%

9. Who is likely or unlikely to vote?
Suburban
residents
Well-educated
people
Well-off people
Farmers(USA)
Old people
Young people
Poor people
Women(escept
Europe & NA)
Racial
Minorities
Day?
Procedure-
easy or
difficult?
Political
situation?

10. ELECTORAL
SYSTEMS
International Ataturk Alatoo University
Department of International Relations
Subject:Political Science and Political Theory II
Lecturer: Ibrahim Koncak
Student: Farida Umurzakova,
Group: IR-4