Department of
Political Studies
Elections in Cambodia, Summer 2008.
POLS 391
Introduction to Electoral Systems
Winter 2011
This is the the course page for a third year "Inroduction to Electoral Systems" offered at Queen's University.
This page is a resource for students in the course and will be updated often.
In a 3000 word essay, examine two countries having the same electoral system (List PR, Parallel, mixed member proportional, STV, single member plurality, two round system or alternative vote). You can find out which countries share the same system by consulting Electoral System Design: the new IDEA Handbook or by going to the ACE Electoral Knowledge Project website. You may examine national or sub-national systems but be sure you are comparing equivalents. Freedom House will also provide some good comparative data on the degree of party freedom and human rights in your two case studies. Michael Gallagher & Paul Mitchell have written a book The Politics of Electoral Systems which has many country specific case studies. The book is available as an e-book in Stauffer.
Briefly (i.e., the first1000 words) compare the mechanics of the two systems (district magnitude, ballot structure and formula and size of legislature). The balance of the essay (i.e., 2000 words) will argue why one case is better in responding to the needs of the voters. What explains the choice of the design features? Why or why not does the system meet the needs of the electorate and how might it be improved?