Question

Discuss briefly three kinds of Minority Representation.

Answer 1

1. Second Ballot System: Each voter receives a single vote under this method, which also creates single-member constituencies. A candidate can only win an election if they receive at least 51% of the vote, or a clear and absolute majority. The candidate with the fewest votes is proclaimed the winner of the election if no contender receives 51% of the vote. The surviving candidates are put to the vote a second time. If no candidate receives 51% of the vote once more, the candidate with the fewest votes is proclaimed the winner and a new election is held with the other contenders. Until a candidate receives 51% of the vote, the process is repeated.
2. Cumulative Vote System: This minority representation approach creates multi-member constituencies, gives each voter the same number of votes as the number of representatives up for election, and gives each voter the option to divide his votes among as many candidates as he likes or to give all of his votes to one. For instance, each voter receives four votes if a constituency is to elect four members. Every voter has the option to cast all four of his votes for one candidate, two, three, or four of his choosing. By uniting all of their votes in support of their candidate or candidates, voters from minority communities can now elect their representatives. It is considered a minority representation strategy in this sense.
3. Limited Vote System: Multi-member constituencies are formed using this minority representation approach. Although each voter receives many votes, they are still one or two votes short of the number of representatives that need to be chosen. For instance, each voter receives two or three votes if four MPs are to be chosen from a single constituency. Since each voter can only cast two or three ballots, the majority community can now receive a maximum of two or three seats. Minority groups naturally receive the remaining seats.