Verhältniswahlprinzip

The Verhältniswahlprinzip, or proportional representation, is an electoral system designed to allocate seats in a legislature in proportion to the votes each political party receives. This stands in contrast to plurality or majority systems where the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of the overall percentage of the vote. In a purely proportional system, if a party wins 30% of the vote, it should ideally receive 30% of the available seats.

Various methods exist to achieve proportionality. Common examples include party-list proportional representation, where voters cast a ballot for a party, and seats are distributed based on these party totals. Another method is the single transferable vote, which allows voters to rank candidates, and seats are allocated based on these preferences in a way that aims for proportionality.

The primary advantage of proportional representation is that it generally leads to a more accurate reflection of the electorate's will in the composition of the legislature. This can increase voter turnout and reduce wasted votes, as even smaller parties can gain representation if they cross a certain electoral threshold. However, it can also lead to coalition governments, which may be less stable or decisive than single-party majorities. Critics sometimes argue that it can empower smaller, extremist parties and lead to a fragmented political landscape. The specific implementation of proportional representation often involves a minimum threshold for parties to gain seats.