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In short:
An electoral system is a set of rules used to determine the results of an election.
What is an electoral system?
- It is a set of rules and mechanisms used to determine the results of an election.
- It defines how the votes cast by the public are converted into legislative seats.
What are the three main types of electoral systems?
- First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system, also called the plurality system.
- Majority system.
- Proportional Representation (PR) system.
The three electoral systems
Electoral systems
three main types
First Past The Post (FPTP)
Also called the plurality system
The candidate with the most votes wins
Wins even if below 50% of the votes
Used for:
The Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha
Majority system
The winner must get more than 50%
If no one does, the top two contest again
This is the second round
Used for:
Ratnadweep, in the book's example
PR system
Proportional Representation
Voters vote for a party, not a person
Seats match each party's share of votes
Used for:
The Rajya Sabha, the President and the Vice President
How do the three electoral systems compare?
| Feature | First Past The Post (FPTP) | Majority system | Proportional Representation (PR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country and seats | Haritbhumi, 25 seats | Ratnadweep, 25 seats | Swarnalok, 100 seats on one nationwide list |
| How you vote | You vote for one candidate in your own seat. The most votes wins, even if below 50% | You vote for one candidate. The winner needs more than 50%. If nobody does, the top two fight a second round | You vote for a party, not a person. Seats match each party's share of votes |
| Sample results | A 40%, B 35%, C 25% | X 45%, Y 40%, Z 15% | M 40%, N 35%, O 15%, P 10% |
| Who forms the government | Party A | Party Y, after winning Round 2 with 55% | Seats go M 40, N 35, O 15, P 10, so power is shared |
Which electoral system is used at the Central level?
- Lok Sabha members are elected directly using the FPTP system.
- Citizens vote directly in their parliamentary constituency for an MP.
- The candidate with the highest number of votes wins.
- Rajya Sabha members are elected indirectly using Proportional Representation.
- Citizens do not vote directly for the Rajya Sabha.
Beyond the textbook. Rajya Sabha members are elected by the elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies. The book does not say who elects them.
How Parliament is elected
Parliament of India
two Houses, two systems
Lok Sabha
Elected directly by citizens
The FPTP system is used
You vote in your parliamentary constituency for an MP
The candidate with the highest number of votes wins
Who votes:
Every voter in the constituency
Rajya Sabha
Elected indirectly
Proportional Representation is used
Citizens do not vote for it directly
Who votes:
The elected members of the State Legislative Assemblies
Which electoral system is used at the State level?
- In states with only a Vidhan Sabha, MLAs are elected directly by citizens using FPTP.
- This matches the Lok Sabha method.
- In states with both Houses, Vidhan Sabha members are still elected directly via FPTP.
- Vidhan Parishad members are elected indirectly through Proportional Representation.
- This is done by means of a single transferable vote.
Who sits in the Vidhan Parishad
- Some members are elected by the members of the Vidhan Sabha.
- Some are elected by local bodies.
- Some are elected by graduates and teachers in that State.
- The Governor of the State nominates some members.
- They represent fields such as art, science, social service, literature and co-operatives.
How a State legislature is elected
State legislature
one House or two
Vidhan Sabha
Present in every State
MLAs are elected directly by citizens
The FPTP system is used, the same as the Lok Sabha
Who votes:
Every voter in the assembly constituency
Vidhan Parishad
Present only in the six bicameral States
Members are elected indirectly
Proportional Representation by single transferable vote
Who votes:
MLAs, local bodies, graduates and teachers; the Governor nominates the rest
Who sits in the Vidhan Parishad
Vidhan Parishad
how its members get there
Elected members
Elected by the members of the Vidhan Sabha
Elected by local bodies
Elected by graduates and teachers of that State
How chosen:
Election by single transferable vote
Nominated members
Nominated by the Governor of the State
People from art, science, social service, literature and co-operatives
How chosen:
No election - the Governor names them
What is a bicameral structure?
- A bicameral structure means the legislature is divided into two Houses.
- The Upper House is the Vidhan Parishad and the Lower House is the Vidhan Sabha.
- Six Indian states have a bicameral structure.
- They are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.
A State with two Houses
A bicameral State legislature
the legislature is divided into two Houses
Upper House
This is the Vidhan Parishad
Members are elected indirectly, and some are nominated
Where:
Only the six bicameral States have one
Lower House
This is the Vidhan Sabha
MLAs are elected directly by citizens
Where:
Every State has one
The six bicameral States:
Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.
What is the Single Transferable Vote system, and where is it used in India?
- It is a preferential voting method.
- A candidate must reach a fixed minimum quota of votes to win.
- Quota = [Total valid votes divided by (Seats to be filled + 1)] + 1
- First preference votes are counted first.
- If seats remain unfilled, the candidate with the lowest votes is eliminated.
- That candidate's votes are transferred according to second preferences.
- In India the book attaches it to the elections to the Vidhan Parishad.
- The Rajya Sabha, the President and the Vice President are elected by proportional representation.
The winning quota - how many votes a candidate needs
Total valid votes
all the valid votes polled
÷ (Seats + 1)
seats to be filled, plus one
+ 1
then add one more vote
↓
Quota = the minimum number of votes needed to win a seat
Counting and transfer of votes
Step 1 - Count the first preferences
every ballot's first choice is counted
↓
Step 2 - Declare the winners
any candidate who reaches the quota is elected
↓
Step 3 - Eliminate the lowest
if seats are still unfilled, the candidate with the fewest votes is knocked out
↓
Step 4 - Transfer those votes
that candidate's votes move to the second preference marked on them
↓
This repeats until every seat is filled
🔍 Let's Explore
- Different democracies use different electoral systems. Make groups of 5-6 students. Each group will select six countries from different continents. Prepare and present a case study on the type of electoral system(s) operating in those countries, and discuss their latest election results of those countries.
Show Answer
Sample answer.
| Country | Continent | Electoral system and latest general election result |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | Asia | Parallel voting, a mix of FPTP and PR. The LDP won a landslide majority in the snap election of February 2026 |
| South Africa | Africa | Proportional Representation. The ANC secured 40% in May 2024 and formed a government of national unity |
| United Kingdom | Europe | First-Past-The-Post. The Labour Party won a decisive parliamentary majority in July 2024 |
| Brazil | South America | Two-round majority system. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won the presidential runoff in October 2022 |
| Canada | North America | First-Past-The-Post. The Liberal Party formed a minority government in April 2025 |
| Australia | Oceania | Preferential voting, also called ranked choice. The Australian Labor Party won an increased lower-house majority in May 2025 |
- Election results change. These were checked in September 2026.
1. Which electoral system requires a candidate to get more than 50% of the votes to win?
Show answer
The Majority system.
2. True or false: in the PR system, voters vote for an individual candidate rather than a party.
Show answer
False. In the PR system, voters vote for a party.
3. Name two Indian states that have a bicameral legislature.
Show answer
Any two of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana or Uttar Pradesh.
Questions from the Book
Q9. A comparative chart of three countries is given below. Based on the information given in the chart, answer the questions.
| Dimension | Country A | Country B | Country C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Political dimension | Written constitution, periodic elections, voting rights, party system varies from two-party to multi-party | Written constitution, periodic elections, voting rights, one political party | Written constitution, monarchy, no voting rights, no political party |
| Economic dimension | Average standard of living | Above-average standard of living | High standard of living |
Q9a. What is the difference between having a voting right in a country with a multi-party system and another with a single-party system?
In a multi-party system
In a single-party system
The voter chooses between several parties
The voter can only choose within one party
The vote can change which party rules
The vote cannot change which party rules
Parties compete, so they must answer to voters
There is no rival party to offer another choice
The choice is real
The choice is limited
- So the right to vote has real meaning only when there is a real choice.
Q9b. In which of the above countries would you like to stay, and why?
This is a personal choice. One possible answer is given below.
- I would like to stay in Country A.
- It has a written constitution, periodic elections and voting rights.
- Its party system gives voters a real choice between parties.
- Its standard of living is only average, while Country C's is high.
- But in Country C there are no voting rights and no political parties.
- A high standard of living cannot replace the freedom to choose one's government.
📝 What Have We Learned
- An electoral system is a set of rules used to determine the results of an election.
- The three main types are FPTP, the Majority system and Proportional Representation.
- Lok Sabha members are elected using FPTP, and Rajya Sabha members using Proportional Representation.
