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How does proportional representation differ from winner-take-all voting?

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The primary difference between proportional representation and winner-take-all (or plurality/majority) systems lies in how they translate popular votes into legislative seats.

Proportional Representation: This system aims to ensure that the distribution of seats in a legislature closely reflects the overall distribution of public support for each political party. It utilizes multimember constituencies, allowing parties to win representation even if they do not secure a majority or plurality of the vote. This approach is designed to provide minority groups with a measure of representation proportionate to their electoral support.123
Winner-Take-All: Often referred to as "first-past-the-post," this system divides territory into single-member districts where the seat is awarded to the candidate who receives the most votes. Because a single candidate represents the entire constituency, these systems tend to reward strong parties and penalize weaker ones. A party can theoretically win a majority of legislative seats while receiving only a minority of the total national vote, as the system does not account for the proportion of votes cast for losing candidates.23