Electoral reform in systems of proportional representation
- ISSN: 03044130
- DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-6765.1992.tb00295.x
Abstract
Abstract. Does electoral reform produce the effects that would be expected on the basis of those features of the systems that are modified? By using knowledge from the literature on electoral systems it is possible to predict whether a reform should result in a conversion of votes into seats more proportional than that which preceded the reform or less. In each of ten cases of reform in Western Europe and Israel the reform produced the expected results. However, graphical presentation of data pooled from all ten cases suggests that party systems have the ability to adjust after just a few elections, making the effects of the new system less impressive than when it was first adopted. Graphical analysis also reveals that changes to more proportional rules tend to occur when the number of parties was already rising, while changes to less proportional rules (which would tend to decrease the number of 'relevant'parties) occur when the number of parties has already been declining.
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