Electoral proportionality vs. party system concentration. The 2020 Romanian local election
Electoral proportionality vs. party system concentration. The 2020 Romanian local election

Summary/Abstract: Voter representation based on votes cast and the degree of concentration of the party system are two variables correlated with the design of the electoral system. In general, there is an inverse relationship between proportionality and concentration: when the proportionality of the electoral system increases, the concentration of the party system decreases and vice versa. This paper investigates the performance of the electoral system used in local elections in Romania, by operationalizing and measuring the two variables: proportionality and concentration. Although the elections are held under the same rules, they do not involve a unitary electoral process, but 42 distinct electoral situations, related to as many local electoral districts. There are 42 electoral competitions and basically the same number of elections. The analysis results indicate that the high magnitude PR system does not have an enhanced performance in providing both proportionality and concentration.

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