Valitsijajärjestelmän

Valitsijajärjestelmän, meaning "electoral system" in Estonian, refers to the set of rules that determine how votes are cast, counted, and translated into representation within a political body. Different electoral systems have varying impacts on political outcomes, including the number of parties that gain representation, the fairness of representation, and the stability of governments.

In Estonia, the most prominent electoral system is proportional representation, particularly using the D'Hondt method. This system is employed for elections to the Riigikogu (parliament), European Parliament, and local government councils. Proportional representation aims to allocate seats in proportion to the votes received by each political party or list. This generally encourages a multi-party system and can lead to coalition governments, as no single party often secures an outright majority.

The D'Hondt method is a highest averages method used to distribute seats. Votes are divided by a series of divisors, and the parties with the highest resulting quotients receive the seats. This method tends to slightly favor larger parties compared to some other proportional representation methods.

Other electoral systems exist globally, such as first-past-the-post (plurality voting), where the candidate with the most votes in a district wins, regardless of whether they achieve a majority. This system often leads to a two-party dominant system. Mixed-member proportional representation combines elements of both proportional representation and plurality voting. The choice of an electoral system is a fundamental aspect of a country's democratic framework and is often debated for its effects on political representation and governance.