sperregrense

Sperregrense is a Norwegian term that translates to "blocking limit" or "threshold" and is primarily used in the context of electoral systems. It refers to the minimum percentage of votes a political party must receive nationwide or in a specific electoral district to be eligible for representation in a parliament or council. The purpose of a sperregrense is to prevent the fragmentation of the political landscape and ensure that only parties with a certain level of support can gain seats.

In Norway, a national sperregrense of 4% is in place for parliamentary elections. This means a party must achieve at least 4% of the total valid votes cast across the country to be considered for seat allocation through the leveling seats mechanism. However, parties that win at least one direct constituency seat are not subject to this national threshold. This dual system aims to balance proportionality with the representation of smaller parties that might have concentrated support in specific regions.

The concept of a blocking limit is common in proportional representation systems in many countries, though the specific percentage and application can vary significantly. Some countries may have no blocking limit, while others may have higher thresholds. The debate surrounding sperregrenser often centers on the trade-off between achieving a more accurate reflection of the electorate's will and maintaining a stable government with a manageable number of political parties.