Enkelvalkrets

Enkelvalkrets refers to a single-member electoral district in a parliamentary system. In such a system, voters in a specific geographic area elect one representative to the legislature. The candidate who receives the most votes, regardless of whether it is a majority or a plurality, wins the seat. This is often contrasted with multi-member districts where multiple representatives are elected from a larger area. The enkelvalkrets system is common in countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. Its proponents argue that it leads to stronger, more decisive governments and a clearer link between constituents and their representatives. Critics, however, point out that it can result in disproportionate representation, where a party can win a majority of seats with less than half of the national vote, and that smaller parties may struggle to gain representation. The specific rules for determining the winner can vary, with some enkelvalkrets systems using a simple plurality (first-past-the-post) and others requiring a majority, often through a second round of voting if no candidate achieves it initially.