Electoral systems play a crucial role in how votes translate into political representation. Two major categories are proportional electoral systems and representation electoral systems. Here are their characteristics, along with examples:

Proportional Electoral Systems

1. Proportional Allocation: Seats in the legislature are allocated based on the percentage of votes each party receives. For example, if a party gets 25% of the votes, it should receive roughly 25% of the seats.
2. Multi-member Districts: These systems often use multi-member districts, allowing multiple representatives to be elected from the same area. This enhances the diversity of representation.
3. Party Lists: Voters typically cast their votes for parties rather than individual candidates. Parties present lists of candidates, and seats are filled based on the order of candidates on the list according to the votes received.
4. Lower Thresholds: Many proportional systems have a minimum threshold of votes that parties must achieve to gain seats, promoting the participation of smaller parties. For instance, in the Netherlands, the threshold is set at 0.67%.
5. Coalition Governments: Due to the multiparty nature of these systems, coalition governments are common, requiring parties to negotiate and collaborate. This can lead to stable governance or political gridlock, depending on the situation.
6. Examples: Countries like Sweden and Israel use proportional representation systems. In Sweden, a modified version of the D'Hondt method is used to allocate seats, while Israel employs a party-list system with a low electoral threshold.

Representation Electoral Systems

1. Direct vs. Indirect Representation: Representation systems can be either direct (voters elect representatives who serve them) or indirect (elected officials represent larger groups or interests).
2. Majoritarian vs. Proportional: While some representation systems favor majoritarian outcomes (like First-Past-the-Post), others aim for proportionality. Majoritarian systems often lead to single-party majority governments.
3. Single-member Districts: In many representation systems, especially majoritarian ones, representatives are elected from single-member districts. This means one candidate wins per district, which can lead to wasted votes for losing candidates.
4. Voter Engagement: Representation systems can influence voter turnout. Majoritarian systems may discourage voters from supporting smaller parties, while proportional systems tend to encourage participation by making every vote count.
5. Political Diversity: Systems that promote broader representation can foster political diversity. For example, in the United States, the majoritarian system often leads to a two-party dominance, limiting the representation of smaller parties.
6. Examples: The United States primarily uses a First-Past-the-Post system for its elections, leading to significant representation of the two major parties—Democrats and Republicans—while smaller parties struggle to gain seats.