additional-member system
Quick Summary
The additional-member system is a type of hybrid electoral system that combines elements of both proportional representation and majoritarian systems. In this system, some representatives are elected through proportional representation, while others are elected through a non-proportional formula, typically by plurality voting in single-member constituencies.1
This approach aims to balance the benefits of proportional representation, which ensures that a party's seat share reflects its overall public support, with the geographic link between representatives and their constituents that is characteristic of constituency-based systems. Voters often cast two ballots: one for an individual candidate in a constituency and another for a political party's list. The party vote typically determines the overall partisan composition of the legislature, ensuring proportionality, while constituency votes elect individual representatives. Germany's Bundestag is a classic example of this hybrid system.21
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