Big Question 2 — How do electoral systems and

Last updated at September 8, 2026 by

How do electoral systems and rules shape political representation and fairness?

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Sample answer.

  • An electoral system decides how votes are converted into seats.
  • The same votes give different results under different systems.
System
What it does to representation
First Past The Post
The candidate with the most votes wins, even below 50%
Majority system
The winner must cross 50%, so a second round may be needed
Proportional Representation
Seats match each party's share of votes, so small parties get a share
  • India uses FPTP for the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha.
  • It uses Proportional Representation for the Rajya Sabha, the Vidhan Parishad, the President and the Vice President.
  • Delimitation keeps the ratio of seats to population equal across constituencies.
  • The recognition criteria decide which parties get a reserved symbol.
  • So the rules, and not just the votes, shape who ends up being represented.
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