Question

Explain the system of proportional representation with reference to the list system.

Answer 1

1. Party-centric voting: Voters cast their vote for a political party, not individual candidates.
2. Party list: Each party submits a list of candidates before the election.
3. Proportional allocation: Seats are allotted to each party in proportion to the number of votes it receives.
4. Candidate selection: Candidates are selected from the party’s list, starting from the top.
5. Multi-member constituencies: The system is used in large constituencies that elect multiple representatives.
6. Used in many countries: Commonly used in European nations, but not used in India for parliamentary elections.