First past the post tends to deliver the winning party more seats in parliament than they’d get under a truly proportional voting system – but this year is off the charts.
The first-past-the-post electoral system has helped the Conservatives stay in power for much of the past century. Now it could lock them out.
A woman celebrates after the final result was announced in the Irish referendum to liberalize abortion laws in May 2018. The referendum followed an Irish citizens’ assembly on the issue.
(AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Seána Glennon, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa
As Canada’s nearest neighbour grapples with serious attacks on democracy, a fresh approach to citizen engagement in Canada is an exciting prospect, worthy of serious consideration.
In this podcast, the Minister for Trade and Special Minister of State Don Farrell joins The Conversation to canvass Australia's prospective trade agreement with the EU, relations with China, and electoral reform
Lisa Marriott, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington and Max Rashbrooke, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Big donors are already pouring millions into New Zealand’s 2023 election. But new proposals could make it harder for large donations to translate into political influence in future.
In this podcast, Michelle and Minister of State Don Farrell discuss the governments sweeping changes to electoral laws, countering misinformation and what now for the Housing Australia Future Fund
A referendum on changing New Zealand’s parliamentary term to four years would be the third such exercise in under 60 years. Why would the outcome be any different this time?
Hundreds of people stand in line to vote in South Africa’s first democratic election in April 1994.
Brooks Kraft LLC/Sygma via Getty Images
The proportional representation system has long outlived its relevance. Its negative extremes abound in local government.
Voters display their permanent voters card during the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections in Lagos.
Adekunle Ajayi/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Logistical challenges facing the 2023 elections remain huge given the number of political parties, the security environment and the number of contestants at various levels.
William Ruto (right) takes over from Uhuru Kenyatta as Kenya’s president in 2022.
Tony Karumba/AFP via Getty Images
Kenya’s electoral agency is tasked with enhancing and supporting constitutional democracy – any dysfunctions would have dire consequences.
Low voter turnout in recent Canadian elections sharply illustrates how the public is disconnected from political institutions and their representatives. How can they be re-engaged?
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Problems with party politics abound, largely driven by the fusion of executive and legislative powers that enforces party discipline. Here’s how to get the public more involved.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses a parliamentary session.
GCIS/Flickr
Parliament’s failure to live up to its constitutional mandate was noted by the State Capture Commission as having enabled former president Zuma’s regime to corrupt state behaviour with ease.
Sam Matekane, Lesotho’s new prime minister has the daunting job of restoring public trust in politics and government.
Molise Molise/AFP via Getty Images
Unable to change the country’s vulnerability to shifts in the global and regional economy, the new prime minister Matekane has few economic levers to pull.
The deliberations were characterised by disingenuous, counter-factual policy pronouncements, and de facto denials of the ANC’s culpability in causing many of the current problems facing the country.
Voters in Johannesburg queue to vote in South Africa’s May 2019 national elections.
EFE-EPA/Kim Ludbrook
Referenda may well have a place in the country’s democracy, but if the form of an electoral system can be referred to a referendum, why not capital punishment, abortion or LGBT rights?
Basotho men wearing the traditional blankets during the annual horse race held on the king’s birthday.
EFE-EPA/Kim Ludbrook
ARC Laureate Fellow, Professor of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney and McGuire Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Harvard Kennedy School
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University