Electoral systems on parliamentary elections in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus

1. Description of some
of electoral systems
on parliamentary
elections
case of Poland, Hungary, Romania,
Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus
by Vadym Zhygadlo
December 2015

3. The Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development
is an international economic
organisation of 34 countries

5. Distribution of electoral
system families (IDEA data)

6. Poland
Hungary
Romania
Belarus
Russia
Ukraine
Moldova

7. Poland
Parliament is bicameral and consists of 2 houses:
Sejm (lower
house) – with
directly elected
460 deputies in
41 multi-
member
constituencies
(7-19 seats per
each)
Proportional,
List PR
Thresholds: 5% or 8%. No
threshold for national
minority lists.
Distribution of seats by the
d’Hondt method (1,2,3,4….).
Among a candidate list seats
are allocated according to the
ranking (voter’s preferences)
Open list.
Each voter
votes for
1 candidate
from 1 list
Senate (upper
house) – with
directly elected
100 deputies in
100 single-
member
constituencies
Majority,
FPTP
The candidate who receives
simple majority of valid votes
in a constituency is elected
Closed list.
Each voter
votes for
1 candidate

8. Constituencies
(41)
Poland
Elections to Sejm

9. How
does a
ballot
look
like?
Poland
Elections to Sejm
only 1 list of
candidates
only 1 candidate
in a list

10. Results in the
constituency #34
Poland
Elections to Sejm

11. Results in the constituency #34
for Prawo i Sprawiedliwość
Poland
Elections to Sejm

12. Results in the constituency #34
for all elected deputies
Poland
Elections to Sejm
Total amount of voters in the constituency #34 – 503061
Voter turnout in the constituency #34 – 41,3% (201758)

13. Hungary
Parliament is unicameral:
National
Assembly –
with directly
elected 199
deputies in:
- 106 single-
member
constituencies
- 1 nationwide
constituency
for 93 seats
Mixed
system,
MMP
1. FPTP for 106 single-member constituencies
– the candidate who receives simple majority
of valid votes in a constituency is elected.
2. List PR for 1 nationwide constituency with
thresholds: 5%, 10% or 15%.
To the votes cast by each party are adding
relevant surplus votes from each single-
member constituency that include: a) votes
cast for any candidate who failed to win the
mandate and b) votes for the candidate who
won the mandate minus the number of votes
for the runner-up candidate plus one.
From these aggregated votes preferential
quota is formed (1/4 after Hare quota) to give
1 seat to each national minority list.
Distribution of remained seats between party
lists and minority lists that reached
thresholds are taken place according to the
d’Hondt method (1,2,3,4….).
Among a candidate list seats are allocated
according to the ranking in the list
Closed lists.
Each voter
votes for
1 candidate in
1 of 106
majoritarian
constituencies
and for
1 political
party (it
means for a
party list in
general) in
nationwide
constituency

14. Votes for individual
candidates
Votes for the national lists
who overcame thresholds
FPTP
106 mandates
List PR with d’Hondt method
93 mandates -minus number of mandates for national minority
lists (by preferential quota – 1/4 after Hare quota)
Scheme of votes transferring into seats
in Hungary on parliamentary elections
v
o
t
e
s
v
o
t
e
s
106 single-member constituencies 1 nationwide constituency for 93 seats

15. Surplus votes
theoretical example
500
200
100
single-member
constituency’s
results
1 – Red party
2 – Green party
3 – Yellow party
amount of
votes cast
in SMC
amount of surplus votes to
be added to a relevant
party-list votes nationwide
nationwide
constituency’s
results
500 – (200+1)
200
100
= n + 299
= n + 200
= n + 100

16. Surplus votes in Hungary: 2010 vs 2012 electoral law
single-member
constituency’s
results
amount of
votes cast
in SMC
amount of surplus votes to
be added to a relevant
party-list votes nationwide
nationwide
constituency’s
results
500
200
100
1 – Red party
2 – Green party
3 – Yellow party
0
200
100
= n
= n + 200
= n + 100
till
2010
single-member
constituency’s
results
amount of
votes cast
in SMC
amount of surplus votes to
be added to a relevant
party-list votes nationwide
nationwide
constituency’s
results
500
200
100
1 – Red party
2 – Green party
3 – Yellow party
500 – (200+1)
200
100
= n + 299
= n + 200
= n + 100
after
2012

17. Electoral system in Hungary before 2012

18. without
surplus
votes
41,3
24,1
19,0
4,8
without
surplus
votes
68,84%
17,08%
9,55%
2,51%

19. Romania
Parliament is bicameral and consists of 2 houses:
Chamber of
Deputies
(lower house) –
with directly
elected 315
deputies + 18
seats for
minorities +
other 79 seats in
315 single-
member
constituencies
Mixed
system,
MMP
1. Majority system: the candidate who receives over
50% of valid votes in a constituency is elected.
2. Proportional system: two-round system of seat
allocation between parties and blocs – first one is by
the Hare quota and second one is by the d’Hondt method
(1,2,3,4….).
Thresholds: 5%, 8%, 9% or 10%.
List of candidates of each party or bloc is formed
according to the amount of votes cast by these
candidates. In case a party is entitled to more seats
than the number of remaining seats in the same
county, the number of seats in the given county will
increase, thereby creating "overhang seats".
Organizations of citizens belonging to a national
minority, which are legally established and do not win
parliamentary representation in either chamber, are
entitled to one seat each in the Chamber of Deputies
on the condition that the organization obtains at least
10% of the average number of valid votes casted for an
elected Deputy
Open list.
Each voter
votes for 1
candidate
(it’s
automati-
cally vote
for a
party)
Senate (upper
house) – with
directly elected
137 deputies +
other 39 seats in
137 single-
member
constituencies
Mixed
system,
MMP
Open list.
Each voter
votes for 1
candidate
(it’s
automati-
cally vote
for a
party)

20. Constituencies (315
in 43 county)
Romania, Elections to
Chamber of Deputies

21. 1. Votes are aggregated
in a county level (each
contains 4-28 SMC)
Romania
Elections to Chamber
of Deputies
Scheme of votes transferring
into seats in Romania
3. If in some SMC any
candidate has obtained
50+% of votes – he
receives a mandate
2. Distribution of
seats between
parties and blocs
by the Hare quota
4. A rating list of candidates in a county is formed according to the
amount of received votes by these candidates (who represent
parties that still hasn’t obtained all their seats according to the
stage 2). These candidates obtain mandates in others SMCs that are
still free. BUT no more than 1 MP from each SMC
6. If after this distribution there are
still some unoccupied seats – they
are transforming to the national
level, where accordingly to the
stages 1, 2 and 4 votes are aggregated
from all 41 counties and distributed
by the d’Hondt method
5. In case a party is entitled to
more seats than the number of
remaining seats in the same
county, the number of seats in
the given county will increase,
thereby creating "overhang seats"

22. 1. Red – 7
2. Blue – 12
3. Orange – 37
4. Green – 23
5. Black – 17
1. Red – 16
2. Blue – 8
3. Orange – 53
4. Green – 15
5. Black – 6
1. Red – 61
2. Blue – 5
3. Orange – 15
4. Green – 8
5. Black – 8
1. Red – 12
2. Blue – 17
3. Orange – 20
4. Green – 18
5. Black – 30
1. Red – 20
2. Blue – 7
3. Orange – 48
4. Green – 8
5. Black – 15
1. Red – 5
2. Blue – 29
3. Orange – 26
4. Green – 31
5. Black – 8
SMC
1
SMC
4
SMC
2
SMC
5
SMC
3
SMC
6
T
H
E
O
R
E
T
I
C
A
L
E
X
A
M
P
L
E

23. SMC 1 SMC 2 SMC 3 SMC 4 SMC 5 SMC 6 Total Places
Red 7 16 61 12 20 5 121 1,241026
Blue 12 8 5 17 7 29 78 0,8
Orange 37 53 15 20 48 26 199 2,041026
Green 23 15 8 18 8 31 103 1,05641
Black 17 6 8 30 15 8 84 0,861538
Σ 585
quota 97,5
1. Red – 7
2. Blue – 12
3. Orange – 37
4. Green – 23
5. Black – 17
1. Red – 16
2. Blue – 8
3. Orange – 53
4. Green – 15
5. Black – 6
1. Red – 61
2. Blue – 5
3. Orange – 15
4. Green – 8
5. Black – 8
1. Red – 12
2. Blue – 17
3. Orange – 20
4. Green – 18
5. Black – 30
1. Red – 20
2. Blue – 7
3. Orange – 48
4. Green – 8
5. Black – 15
1. Red – 5
2. Blue – 29
3. Orange – 26
4. Green – 31
5. Black – 8
SM
C 1
SM
C 4
SM
C 2
SM
C 5
SM
C 3
SM
C 6
Orange 48
Orange 37
Green 31
Orange 26
Green 23
Orange 20
Green 18
Orange 15
Green 15
Green 8
Green 8
C
A
S
E
1.
U
N
A
L
L
O
C
A
T
E
D
S
E
A
T
S
SM
C 2
SM
C 5
SM
C 3
SM
C 6

24. SMC 1 SMC 2 SMC 3 SMC 4 SMC 5 SMC 6 Total Places
Red 58 38 61 59 51 28 295 3,025641
Blue 33 34 29 35 19 47 197 2,020513
Black 8 27 9 5 28 24 101 1,035897
Σ 593
quota 98,8
1. Red – 58
2. Blue – 33
3. Black – 8
1. Red – 38
2. Blue – 33
3. Black – 27
1. Red – 61
2. Blue – 29
3. Black – 9
1. Red – 59
2. Blue – 35
3. Black – 5
1. Red – 51
2. Blue – 20
3. Black – 28
1. Red – 28
2. Blue – 47
3. Black – 24
SM
C 1
SM
C 4
SM
C 2
SM
C 5
SM
C 3
SM
C 6
Blue 47
Blue 35
Blue 34
Blue 33
Blue 29
Black 28
Black 27
Black 24
Blue 19
Black 9
Black 8
Black 5
C
A
S
E
2.
“
O
V
E
R
H
A
N
G
S
E
A
T
S
”
SM
C 1
SM
C 4
SM
C 2
SM
C 5
SM
C 3
SM
C 6

25. Practical effects of the
Romanian electoral system
Nominal
amount of seats
“Overhang
seats”
Seats for
minorities
TOTAL
Chamber of
Deputies
315 +79 +18 412
Senate 137 +39 0 176
Percentage
of popular
votes
Seats won
by party in
both houses
Percentage
of seats won
by party
Amount of
“overhang
seats”
% of
“overhang
seats”
USL 58,6% 395 69,3% 1 0,3%
ARD 16,6% 80 14% 55 68,8%
PP-DD 14% 68 11,9% 61 89,7%
UDMR 5,2% 27 4,7% 1 3,7%
“Overhang seats” are given to weaker parties
and help to compensate disproportionality
“Overhang seats” cause an increase of the Parliament seats

26. Moldova
Parliament is unicameral:
Parliament –
with directly
elected 101
deputies in 1
nationwide
constituency
Proportional
system,
List PR
Thresholds: 2%, 6%, 9% or 11%.
Distribution of seats by the Hare
quota, but firstly seats are given
to independent candidates who
overcame the threshold of 2%.
Then an electoral quota is
forming: all valid votes at an
election (minus votes for
independent candidates who has
received seats) are divided on 101
seats (minus the amount of seats
which have been given to
independent candidates).
Division of seats between
candidates in a list is held
according to their order in the
list.
Elections are validated if the
turnout is over 33%
Closed list.
Each voter
votes for
1 party (it
means for a
party list in
general) or for
1 independent
candidate

27. Features of the
electoral system:
• Elections are validated if the turnout is over 33%.
• A ballot contain not only political party or their blocs, but
also independent candidates with a threshold of 2% (in
comparison to a threshold of 6% for a political party).
• Voters are voting by using a stamp “Votat”
Moldova
Elections to Parliament

28. Election 2014 results: Moldova
Elections to Parliament

29. Election 2014 results: Moldova
Elections to Parliament

30. Ukraine
Parliament is unicameral:
Verhovna
Rada – with
directly
elected 450
deputies in:
- 225 single-
member
constituencies
- 1 nationwide
constituency
for 225 seats
Mixed
system,
Parallel
1. FPTP for 225 single-member
constituencies – the candidate
who receives simple majority of
valid votes in a constituency is
elected.
2. List PR for 1 nationwide
constituency with thresholds: 5%.
Distribution of seats by the Hare
quota.
Division of seats between
candidates in a list is held
according to their order in the list
Closed list.
Each voter votes
for 1 candidate
in 1 of 225
majoritarian
constituencies
and for 1
political party (it
means for a
party list in
general) in the
nationwide
constituency

31. Election 2014 results: Ukraine
Elections to Parliament

32. Party
Vote
share (%)
Seats in
NWC
Seats in
SMC
Total
seats
Share of seats in
the Parliament
Petro Poroshenko Bloc 21,8% 63 69 132 29,3%
People’s Front 22,1% 64 18 82 18,2%
Self Reliance Party 11,0% 32 1 33 7,3%
Opposition Bloc 9,4% 27 2 29 6,4%
Radical Party 7,4% 22 0 22 4,9%
Fatherland 5,7% 17 2 19 4,2%
Freedom 4,7% - 6 6 1,3%
Communist Party 3,9% - 0 0 0%
Strong Ukraine 3,1% - 1 1 0,2%
Civil Position 3,1% - 0 0 0%
Zastup 2,7% - 1 1 0,2%
Right Sector 1,8% - 1 1 0,2%
Volia - - 1 1 0,2%
Independent - - 96 96 21,3%
Vacant - - 27 27 6%
Election 2014 results:

34. Russia
Parliament is bicameral and consists of 2 houses:
State Duma
(lower house)
– with directly
elected 450
deputies in:
- 225 single-
member
constituencies
- 1 nationwide
constituency
for 225 seats
Mixed
system,
Parallel
1. FPTP for 225 single-member
constituencies – the candidate who receives
simple majority of valid votes in a
constituency is elected.
2. List PR for 1 nationwide constituency
with thresholds: 5%.
Distribution of seats by the Hare quota.
Division of seats between candidates in a list
is held according to their order in the list
Closed list.
Each voter votes for
1 candidate in 1 of
225 majoritarian
constituencies and
for 1 political party
(it means for a party
list in general) in the
nationwide
constituency
Council of the
Federation
(upper house)
– with
appointed 170
deputies in 85
multi-member
(2 seats)
constituencies
Quasi
majority
system
Each of the constituent members of the Russian Federation (federal
territorial units) appoints 2 deputies: 1 by a legislature and 1 by an
executive power of a republic or region concerned.
A legislature votes for a candidate by a majority of votes of its
squad.
A head of an executive power (before he/she is elected by voters on a
popular election or appointed by a legislature) proclaims 3
candidates to the post of deputy of the Council of the Federation,
one of which will be appointed when he will be elected

35. Election 2011 results
(only List PR system was used):
Russia
Elections to State Duma

36. Belarus
Parliament is bicameral and consists of 2 houses:
House of
Representatives
(lower house) –
with directly
elected 110
deputies in 110
single-member
constituencies
Majority
system,
Two-
round
TRS
In the first round candidates who
receive over 50% of votes are declared
elected. Voting is considered valid if
over 50% of eligible voters took part.
In the second round candidate
securing a simple majority of votes wins
the seat. Voting is considered valid if
over 25% of eligible voters took part
Closed
list.
Each voter
votes for 1
candidate
Council of the
Republic (upper
house) – with
indirectly elected
56 deputies in 7
multi-member
constituencies
(8 seats) + 8
appointed deputies
by President
Majority
system
Candidates who receive over 50% of
votes are declared elected
Open list.
Each voter
(local
deputy)
has up to 8
votes

37. Constituencies (101)
Belarus, Elections to
House of Representatives

38. Political groups in the House of Representatives:
• Non-partisan – 105
• Communist Party of Belarus – 3
• Agrarian Party – 1
• Republican Party of Labour and Justice – 1
In general, there are 15 parties in Belarus,
but only 3 of them are represented in the parliament
Election 2012 results:
Belarus, Elections to
House of Representatives

39. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ATTENSION