Simple enough meta-rules:
United in diversity: Rules for the European Parliamentary elections
All MEPs are elected by universal suffrage in free elections by secret ballot on the basis of proportional representation, rather than the first past the post system that had been used in some Member States and still is used for national elections. However, countries can be subdivided into electoral regions to which proportional representation is applied. Ireland, the UK, Italy, France and Belgium use this system. Countries can also impose a threshold not higher than 5% of all votes, at a national level, that a party or candidate must reach to be represented in the European Parliament.
For those who does not bother to follow the links, note that the second link, HOW THE EUROPEAN UNION WORKS, contains all the rules of all member states nicely aggregated. That is a link that will probably come in handy. A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!
So, new question. What are the size (in MEPs) of the smallest national or regional disctricts? A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!
HOW THE EUROPEAN UNION WORKS
B. Constituency boundariesUntil 2003, in 11 Member States (Germany, Austria, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden) the whole country formed a single electoral area. In four Member States (Belgium, Ireland, Italy and the United Kingdom) the national territory was divided into a number of constituencies. Most new Member States have introduced single electoral areas (e.g. the Czech Republic and Hungary). Poland has 13 regional constituencies.Since the 2002 Council Decision, a number of the old Member States have amended or are amending national laws. France has abandoned the use of a single electoral constituency and has established eight large regional constituencies: Northwest, West, East, Southwest, Southeast, Massif Central, Île-de-France and Overseas. In Germany, although the electoral legislation will not be changed, parties are allowed to present lists of candidates at either Land or national level. Similarly, in Finland parties may present their lists at either constituency or national level.
B. Constituency boundaries
Until 2003, in 11 Member States (Germany, Austria, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden) the whole country formed a single electoral area. In four Member States (Belgium, Ireland, Italy and the United Kingdom) the national territory was divided into a number of constituencies. Most new Member States have introduced single electoral areas (e.g. the Czech Republic and Hungary). Poland has 13 regional constituencies.
Since the 2002 Council Decision, a number of the old Member States have amended or are amending national laws. France has abandoned the use of a single electoral constituency and has established eight large regional constituencies: Northwest, West, East, Southwest, Southeast, Massif Central, Île-de-France and Overseas. In Germany, although the electoral legislation will not be changed, parties are allowed to present lists of candidates at either Land or national level. Similarly, in Finland parties may present their lists at either constituency or national level.
According to Nice rules (and Lisbon) Cyprus, Estonia and Luxembourg has 6 seats each. Malta has 5 (would have been 6 under Lisbon rules).
Belgium, Ireland, Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland and France has regional districts. Does any have smaller districts then 5 MEPs?
What I am getting at here is if there is any rule really preventing a country from turning it into a FTP or otherwise by creating small enough districts. A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!
Ireland European Parliament election, 2004 (Ireland) - constituencies Constituency Area Seats Pop. per Seat Dublin Dublin 4 1.2m 275k East Leinster less Dublin 3 1.1m 333k South Munster less Clare 3 1.1m 333k North-West Connacht plus Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Clare 3 880k 270k Total 13 4.2m 300k
Ireland operates a multi-seat single transferable vote proportional electoral system where voters vote for candidates, not parties, although voters party affiliation (or none) are indicated on the ballot paper.
In National/Euro elections, constituencies are of 3, 4 or 5 seats although when the Irish EP representation went down from 15 to 13, two constituencies lost a seat and there is no 5 seat Euro constituency left.
A candidate is elected by reaching a quota is which is calculated by dividing the vote by the no. of seats+1 and adding 1 - thus ensuring that 3 and only thre candidates can reach the quota.
Thus in a 3 seat constituency the quota ends up being 25% of the vote (+1 vote) .
On the face of it, this would appear to present a rather high 25% barrier to entry. However because votes are transferable, all it takes is for a number of (e.g. left/green) candidates to obtain c. 25% of the vote between them and transfer the vote effciency between them.
The transfer mechanism works by how the voter has marked their ballot paper. Instead of an X for one candidate, a voter goes 1,2,3,4,5 in order of preference for the candidates he likes and can ignore other candidates completely. When the votes are counted they are counted on the basis of the No. 1 preferences first. If that candidate is elected (on reaching the quota) or eliminated (on being the lowest remaining candidate) his votes are redistributed to remaining candidates on the basis of the 2nd. preference on his ballot papers. (in the cases of an elected candidate, only his SURPLUS pver and above the quota is redistributed as his quota of votes has already elected him cannot be used to elect another.)
It all seems very complicated to an outsider, but is a joy to aficionados and is surprisingly well understood by the population as a whole. It allows for all kinfs of party alliances, regional alliances, issues alliances - e.g. women tend to transfer more to women - and allows for no end of more or less informed speculation by the pundocracy which is an important part of marketing the electoral process itself.
The bottom line is that even an independent candidate, or one representing a minor party can get elected provided the candidate is popular and is seen as being closely aligned with other candides who have been eliminated and whos votes have become available for transfer. It encourages alliances and working together rather than polarisation within the sustem, as polarising candidates tend nopt to get many transfers from others. Thus a Sinn Fein candidate, typically, needs to get a higher first preference vote than a Labour candidate, because the latter is likely to pick up more lower preference transfer votes on subsequent counts.
I will write up a more detailed account - with examples - in a diary shortly if people are interested.
Bottom line, I think it is a good system because it does allow a degree of proportionality, and there are always people who get elected without necessarily being favoured party hacks. notes from no w here
Frank Schnittger:
Please do.
because it does allow a degree of proportionality
I hope you will cover approximately how high a degree of proportionality. On first glance I would guess larger parties benefit, though they do that in most systems. A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!
A key feature of the system - unlike the UK first past the post one - is that there is almost no such thing as a wasted vote. Unless you only indicate a preference for a few very marginal candidates, your vote ends up electing someone, even if it isn't your first choice. Thuis there is no such thing as a "safe" constituency where there is little point in voting because e.g. a Labour, or Tory candidate is sure to win in any case.
Lots of people vote tactically - voting for minor candidates who they know won't be elected but whom they want to encourage, but then ensuring their vote ends up electing the least unacceptable mainstream candidate. notes from no w here
