Proportional Representation: Should India adopt a new electoral system?

What is a Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system? Which are the countries that follow proportional representation in their electoral democracies? Will it work in a large and diverse country like India? What is the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system in India? Read here to learn more.

Democracies constantly evolve to meet the demands of changing times and the requirements of their citizens. This continuous unfolding includes reforms in the electoral system, such as in India.

Debate and discussion over the issue of First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) versus Proportional Representation (PR) electoral systems have been ongoing for decades.

The issue regained momentum after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) )-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won the 2024 general election.

Proportional Representation electoral system

Proportional Representation (PR) is an electoral system designed to ensure that the number of seats a political party or group wins in a legislature is proportionate to the number of votes it receives in an election.

Unlike majoritarian systems, where the candidate with the most votes wins, PR aims to reflect the overall distribution of public support for each party within the legislative body.

Types of Proportional Representation

1. List PR:
   • Voters cast their ballots for a party, and parties receive seats in proportion to their share of the vote.
   • Closed List: Parties determine the order of candidates on the list.
   • Open List: Voters can influence the order of candidates on the party list.
2. Single Transferable Vote (STV):
   • Voters rank candidates in order of preference.
   • Candidates must reach a specified quota of votes to be elected.
   • Surplus votes from elected candidates and eliminated candidates’ votes are transferred based on voter preferences.
3. Mixed-Member Proportional (MMP):
   • Combines elements of PR and majoritarian systems.
   • Voters have two votes: one for a party and one for a local candidate.
   • To ensure overall proportionality, the Seats are filled by constituency representatives and party lists.

Features of Proportional Representation

• Proportional Allocation: Seats in the legislature are allocated based on the proportion of votes each party receives.
• Multi-Member Districts: Electoral districts elect multiple representatives rather than just one, enabling a proportional distribution of seats.
• Thresholds: Minimum percentage of votes a party must receive to gain representation. This prevents fragmentation by very small parties.

Advantages of Proportional Representation

• Fair Representation: Ensures that all significant political groups receive representation proportional to their electoral support, leading to a more inclusive and representative legislature.
• Reduced Wasted Votes: Fewer votes are wasted compared to winner-takes-all systems, as even smaller parties can gain seats if they meet the threshold.
• Encourages Multi-Party Systems: Facilitates the representation of a broader range of political parties, encouraging a pluralistic political landscape.
• Coalition Governments: Often results in coalition governments, which can promote consensus-building and more stable policy-making.

Disadvantages of Proportional Representation

• Complexity: PR systems can be more complex for voters to understand and for electoral authorities to administer.
• Coalition Instability: Coalition governments, common under PR, can be unstable and prone to frequent changes or collapses.
• Fringe Parties: Small or fringe parties may gain representation, potentially leading to fragmented legislatures and difficulty in forming effective governments.
• Accountability Issues: Voters may find it harder to hold individual representatives accountable, especially in systems with closed-party lists.

Countries Using Proportional Representation

• Germany: Uses a Mixed-Member Proportional system combining direct constituency elections with proportional party list seats.
• Sweden: Employs an open list PR system, allowing voters to influence the ranking of candidates on party lists.
• New Zealand: Adopted a Mixed-Member Proportional system, providing voters with two votes: one for a party and one for a local candidate.
• Netherlands: Utilizes a pure List PR system with a low threshold, resulting in a highly proportional and multi-party legislature.

First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) Electoral System in India

The First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system, also known as the plurality or simple majority system, is the electoral method used in India for both parliamentary and state assembly elections.

In this system, the candidate who receives the most votes in a constituency wins the election, regardless of whether they secure an absolute majority of the votes.

Features of FPTP

• Single-Member Constituencies: Each electoral district, or constituency, elects one representative to the legislative body.
• A plurality of Votes: The candidate with the highest number of votes in a constituency wins, even if they do not achieve an absolute majority.
• Simple Ballot: Voters select their preferred candidate, and the candidate with the most votes wins.
• Direct Representation: Each elected representative directly represents the interests of their specific constituency.

Implementation in India

• Lok Sabha (House of the People):
  • India’s lower house of Parliament, the Lok Sabha, consists of 543 elected members.
  • Each member is elected from a single-member constituency using the FPTP system.
• State Legislative Assemblies:
  • Members of the Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) in each Indian state are also elected using the FPTP system.
  • Each constituency within a state elects one representative.

Advantages of FPTP

• Simplicity: The system is easy for voters to understand and for electoral authorities to administer.
• Clear Outcomes: Typically results in clear and decisive election outcomes, facilitating the formation of stable governments.
• Strong Representative-constituency Link: The direct election of representatives strengthens the accountability and connection between elected officials and their constituents.
• Discourages Extremism: By favouring larger, broad-based parties, FPTP tends to marginalize extremist and fringe parties.

Disadvantages of FPTP

• Disproportionate Representation: The system can result in a significant discrepancy between the percentage of votes received by a party and the percentage of seats they win. Smaller parties and minority groups may be underrepresented.
• Wasted Votes: Votes cast for losing candidates do not contribute to the election outcome, potentially leading to a large number of wasted votes.
• Encourages Tactical Voting: Voters may feel compelled to vote for a candidate they perceive as having a better chance of winning, rather than their preferred candidate.
• Regional Imbalances: FPTP can exacerbate regional disparities, as parties with concentrated regional support can win many seats with fewer votes, while parties with widespread but thin support may win fewer seats.

Impact on Indian Politics

• Two-Party Dominance: FPTP has contributed to the dominance of major parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC) in Indian politics.
  • Smaller and regional parties often struggle to gain proportional representation.
• Majority Governments: The system often produces majority governments, which can govern more effectively without needing coalition support.
• Regional Parties: While FPTP can disadvantage smaller parties, it has also enabled the rise of strong regional parties in states where these parties have concentrated support.

Case Studies

• 2014 Lok Sabha Elections:
  • The BJP won 31% of the total vote but secured 282 out of 543 seats (52%), illustrating the disproportionality that can occur with FPTP.
  • The INC received 19% of the vote but only 44 seats, showing the challenges faced by even significant parties under this system.
• 2017 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Elections:
  • The BJP secured 39.7% of the vote but won 312 out of 403 seats (77%), while the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, despite significant vote shares, won far fewer seats.

Should India change to Proportional representation?

The First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system in India plays a critical role in shaping the country’s political landscape.

• Its simplicity and tendency to produce stable governments are significant advantages.
• However, the system also has notable drawbacks, such as disproportional representation and the potential for wasted votes.
• Understanding these dynamics is essential for evaluating the effectiveness and fairness of India’s electoral process and considering any potential reforms.

Proportional Representation (PR) systems offer a more equitable approach to translating votes into legislative seats, ensuring that a wide range of political voices is represented.

• While these systems have their complexities and potential drawbacks, such as coalition instability and the empowerment of smaller parties, their advantages in promoting fair representation and reducing wasted votes make them a popular choice in many democracies worldwide.
• By providing a closer match between public support and legislative representation, PR systems aim to create more inclusive and responsive governance.

Conclusion

Changing to a Proportional Representation system in India could enhance fairness and inclusivity in representation, reflecting the diverse political and social landscape more accurately.

However, such a transition would also bring challenges, including potential political fragmentation, administrative complexities, and the risk of unstable coalition governments.

Related articles:

• Alternative voting methods in India
• Electoral reforms in India
• Simultaneous elections
• Coalition government

-Article by Swathi Satish