Distribution of Deputy Mandates: Analysis of Proportional Representation in the Context of a Mixed Electoral System

Abstract

Elections are a socio-political institution, during which holding it is determined what the nature of the reforms will be in the next few years. It is important that the legitimacy of the electoral process is high and that key reforms are determined by competent government officials. The basic element of elections is a high level of competition, which should exist not only between various political entities that exercise eligibility to vote and right to be elected but also within such structures fighting for power. The paper contains an analysis concerning the issue on the functioning of the proportional vote distribution institute. According to the election results, it is necessary to determine how many seats will go to a certain party, which, according to the proportional system, has overcome the percentage barrier. In world practice, there is a whole range of proportional distribution methods that form two large groups: the largest remainder methods and the dividers methods. There are discussions on this parameter, and each country has adopted its own methodology. In Russia, with a proportional distribution of seats, one of the largest remainder methods is used, namely, the Hare method. The study will reflect the analysis of the functioning of proportional distribution systems in Russia and in the world.