DHondtformule

The D'Hondt method, also known as the D'Hondt system or the highest averages method, is a proportional representation electoral system used to determine the distribution of seats in a legislature. It was developed by Belgian mathematician Victor D'Hondt in 1878. The method aims to allocate seats in a way that closely reflects the proportion of votes received by each political party.

In the D'Hondt method, each party's list of candidates is assigned a number of seats based on the number of votes it has received. The seats are allocated in a series of rounds. In each round, the number of votes for each party is divided by a divisor, which starts at 1 and increases by 1 with each subsequent round. The party with the highest quotient in each round receives one seat, and the process is repeated until all seats are allocated.

The D'Hondt method is known for its simplicity and transparency, as it is based on straightforward mathematical calculations. However, it can sometimes lead to a situation where the number of seats allocated to a party does not exactly match the proportion of votes it received, which can result in a slight overrepresentation or underrepresentation of some parties. Despite this, the D'Hondt method is widely used in various countries and is considered one of the most popular proportional representation systems.