What are the main types of Proportional Representation?”
“Proportional Representation” (PR) actually means using any one of several different types of election systems. The main types are “Party List”, “Mixed Member Proportional”, and “Choice Voting”. (There is also another, lesser well known system now being called “Interactive Representation”, and several types of “semi-proportional” systems such as cumulative voting and limited voting.) PARTY LIST In a “Party-List” system, voters vote for their favorite party. If a party gets 40% of the vote, it gets 40% of the seats. If it gets 10% of the vote, it gets 10% of the seats. Each party submits a list of candidates to the voters. If 100 seats are to be filled, and a party gets 10% of the votes, it will get 10 seats. Which 10 candidates get the seats? In most countries, people can select their favortie candidates from the list, and whoever gets the most votes within that party will get elected. That is called an “open-list” system. In a few countries, you just fill the seats from the top of the
