Äänestyskynnys

Äänestyskynnys, also known as an electoral threshold, is a minimum percentage of the total vote that a political party must receive in an election to be allocated any seats in the legislature. This mechanism is used in proportional representation electoral systems. The primary purpose of an äänestyskynnys is to prevent the fragmentation of the parliament by discouraging very small parties from gaining representation. It aims to create more stable governments by fostering coalitions among larger parties and reducing the number of parties that might otherwise enter the legislature.

The threshold can vary significantly between countries. Common thresholds include 1%, 2%, 3%, or 5% of the national vote. Some systems may have different thresholds for national and regional elections, or for different types of legislative bodies. The implementation of an äänestyskynnys can have a profound impact on the party system. It can encourage parties to form alliances or merge to overcome the threshold, potentially leading to fewer, but larger, political parties. Conversely, critics argue that it can disenfranchise voters who support smaller parties, as their votes may not contribute to any seat allocation. The debate over the optimal level of an äänestyskynnys, or whether one should exist at all, is a recurring topic in electoral system design discussions worldwide.