Academy
Electoral systems
How votes become seats and winners. The rules that turn ballots into outcomes — first-past-the-post, proportional representation, ranked choice — and what each one does to the result.
1 article9 min
Frequently asked questions
What makes an election free and fair?
Two things at once: the vote is free (universal suffrage, a secret ballot, real choice, no coercion) and the contest is fair (equal rules, independent administration, a level media and financing field, and a transparent, checkable count). Both must hold — a clean count in a rigged contest is not a fair election.
What is the difference between first-past-the-post and proportional representation?
First-past-the-post elects one winner per district — the candidate with the most votes — which tends to produce two large parties. Proportional representation allocates seats in proportion to each party's vote share, which tends to produce many parties and coalition governments.