O sistema eleitoral de lista aberta no Brasil

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to undertake a systematic analysis of the workings of the open-list proportional representation system in Brazil, particularly with regard to elections to the national Chamber of Deputies. The first section of the paper describes the history and functioning of the current electoral system. The second section appraises the impact of the open-list system with regard to three dimensions: parties, voters, and the relationship between deputies and their constituents. The final section discusses the mechanisms afforded by the electoral system for voters to reward or punish their elected representatives. In addition to linking the Brazilian case to modern reflections on electoral systems, the paper features empirical data from three different surveys conducted with deputies and voters. Despite being a case study, the paper aims to analyze the Brazilian experience in comparative perspective with other countries using the open list.