Understanding Electoral Systems and Voting Rights

Posted on Feb 2, 2025 in Economic Sciences

Democracy and the Electoral System

Democracy begins to operate through laws, and citizens are essential for democracy. The only feasible form is representative democracy. There are several forms of democracy:

  • Direct Democracy: Citizens directly decide on matters that affect everyone. There are no intermediaries. Rousseau considered this the only true democracy, but its application today would be nearly impossible.
  • Semi-Direct Democracy: Institutionalized voters decide on public matters. This form emphasizes popular initiatives, referendums, and plebiscites.
  • Representative Democracy: Power is limited, and there is political participation. The people elect representatives and monitor their performance. This is the most common form of democracy.

Some argue that democracy is a utopia. Its mission is to represent the citizenry. Among its principles are the political legitimacy of the elected, the representation of the opinions and interests of the electorate, and the establishment of an opposition capable of controlling, among other things, the evolution of suffrage.

The History of Suffrage

The history of suffrage can be divided into five phases:

  1. Pre-Revolutionary Phase: The state and the estates held significant importance. Citizens were categorized as nobles, clergy, artisans, farmers, etc.
  2. Revolutionary Phase (through 1848): This phase began with revolutions and saw the rise of census suffrage, which was an important step towards broader suffrage.
  3. Emergence of the Mass Electorate (up to 1900): This period is defined by the appearance of the mass electorate and the establishment of universal male suffrage.
  4. Elimination of Economic and Social Barriers (up to 1920): Efforts were made to eliminate economic and social barriers to voting. The women’s suffrage movement began to gain traction.
  5. Universal Suffrage: Women’s suffrage progressed, the voting age was reduced, and certain requirements, such as education or property ownership, were eliminated.

Terms and Barriers to Voting Rights

  1. Restrictions: Wealth, literacy, and property taxes were common restrictions, leading to census suffrage.
  2. Limitations: Sex, age, “indignity,” religion, and ethnicity were used to limit voting rights.
  3. Inequalities: The value of votes was not equal for all. Multiple, plural, and family votes existed.
  4. Strain: Manipulation, media control, and pressure were used to influence voting.

Principles Underlying the Electoral System

  • Universal: All citizens can vote and be elected.
  • Equal: Each vote should have equal weight (not fully met in Spain due to the D’Hondt method).
  • Secret: Voting should be conducted by secret ballot and never be made public.
  • Direct: The electorate chooses their representatives directly, without intermediaries.
  • Free: All citizens should have the freedom to choose.

Elements of the Electoral System

  1. Electoral Body: The physical and legal entity where eligible voters are registered. It represents the citizens’ right to vote.
  2. District: Can be either uninominal (electing only one representative) or multi-member (electing multiple representatives). It is the territorial unit where voters cast their ballots and seats are allocated.
  3. Forms of Application: Voters may vote for a party or a candidate. Lists can be open or closed.
  4. Method of Voting: Options include single vote, multiple votes, transferable votes, etc.
  5. Electoral Barrier: To obtain a seat, a party typically needs at least 3% of the votes in a constituency or 5% in a city.
  6. Allocation of Seats (Electoral Formulas):
    • Majority Formulas:
      • Simple Majority: The candidate with the most votes wins.
      • Absolute Majority: The candidate must receive more than 50% of the votes.
      • Two-Round System: A second round is held if no candidate achieves an absolute majority in the first round.
      • Alternative Vote (AV): Voters rank candidates in order of preference.
    • Proportional Formulas:
      • Largest Remainder: Uses a quota formula.
      • Single Transferable Vote (STV): Uses a quota formula.
      • Highest Average: Uses a divisor formula.
    • Semi-Proportional Formulas:
      • Cumulative Voting:
      • Limited Voting: