Electoral System Design Database

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About this database

The choice of electoral system is one of the most important institutional decisions in any democracy. Electoral systems define the rules of the political game; they help determine who is elected, how a campaign is fought, the role of political parties, and most importantly, who governs. Furthermore, the choice of an electoral system can help to "engineer" specific outcomes, such as to encourage cooperation and accommodation in a divided society. Historically, however, it has been rare that electoral systems are deliberately chosen or carefully designed for the particular historical and social conditions of a country. In some cases, the choice has reflected the impact of colonialism; in others, the influence of neighbouring systems.

The Electoral System Design Database provides comparative data on electoral systems used in 217 countries and territories across the globe. Compared to other similar datasets, this expansive international coverage makes this database the most comprehensive source of information in the elections field. Interactive tools, including maps and graphs, allow users to easily compare regions and sub-regions, filter necessary data and export raw data for further analyses. Country pages provide in depth country level data in a historical format.

Background information

View our themes

Electoral Processes

Constitution-Building and the Rule of Law

Political Participation and Representation

Methodology

FAQ

Methodology

The initial data on electoral systems was gathered for the Electoral System Design: The New International IDEA Handbook published in 2005 by International IDEA. A group of researchers conducted in-house research to review the electoral legislation of countries around the world. The national legal documents were compiled from different sources, including the official web portals of governments, regional organizations working in the area of democracy and electoral processes, and research institutes specializing in the area of elections and politics in general. In exceptional cases, when legal documents on elections-related issues were not available for certain countries, the researchers contacted the national electoral management body (EMB) of those countries in order to obtain the necessary data. These data were then analysed and informed decisions were made on the electoral system design of each country as well as other related information provided in the handbook.

The data gathered for Electoral System Design: The New International IDEA Handbook were later transferred to International IDEA’s Electoral System Design Database. Since the transfer of the data, the database has been continuously updated. During 2016-2017, historical data covering the elections conducted in each country since 1991 were also added to the database. Beginning from 2018, the data for every country in the database is updated following the cycle of parliamentary (lower house) elections.

We invite researchers and practitioners working in the area of elections to contribute to the update of Electoral System Design Database. If users note that the database has missing or incorrect data, or if they find missing sources or require more explanation, they can use the online form in the “Submit feedback” section. We will review the submission as soon as possible and update the database if the data suggested is accurate.

Frequently asked questions

Who created the database?

The database was created by International IDEA using desk research conducted by in house researchers, global survey of EMBs, and also by contracting regional/local consultants. The community is encouraged to use the database and to help us improve existing entries by suggesting revisions to keep the database up-to-date.

Where does the data come from?

Data are mainly obtained from countries' electoral legislation. In some cases, when electoral laws are not available, other sources are also used, such as direct responses provided by EMB officials, election results and other materials posted in the EMB website, reports produced by election observation mission reports, as well as other reputable materials available online.

What should I do if I find missing or incorrect data?

If you note that the database has missing or incorrect data, or if you find missing sources or have a need for more explanation, you can use the online form in the “Submit feedback” section. We will review the submission as soon as possible and update the database if the information submitted is accurate.

Can I get a complete export of all the data?

In order to export all the data in the ESD database you should follow the following steps:

Click on the “Advanced Search” hyperlink provided below the “Search the database” section.
You will be directed to a specific advanced search interface where you can select all the questions and countries to produce online table presenting all the data.
Data from this table can be exported into excel file by clicking on the “Export” button available at the top of the table. In this search interface you can also limit your search to specific sections and/or questions of the database as well as to specific regions and/or countries.

Is there a codebook explaining the variables included in the database?

The Codebook for the ESD Database can be found at the bottom of this page. A permanent link to the Codebook is here

Glossary

First Past The Post (FPTP)	First Past The Post is the simplest form of plurality/majority electoral system. The winning candidate is the one who gains more votes than any other candidate, even if this is not an absolute majority of valid votes. The system uses single-member districts and the voters vote for candidates rather than political parties.
Block Vote (BV)	Block Vote is a plurality/majority system used in multi-member districts. Electors have as many votes as there are candidates to be elected. The candidates with the highest vote totals win the seats. Usually voters vote for candidates rather than parties and in most systems may use as many, or as few, of their votes as they wish.
Party Block Vote (PBV)	Party Block Vote (PBV) is a plurality/majority system using multi-member districts in which voters cast a single party-centred vote for a party of choice, and do not choose between candidates. The party with most votes will win every seat in the electoral district.
Alternative Vote (AV)	The Alternative Vote is a preferential plurality/majority system used in single-member districts. Voters use numbers to mark their preferences on the ballot paper. A candidate who receives an absolute majority (50 per cent plus 1) of valid first preference votes is declared elected. If no candidate achieves an absolute majority of first preferences, the least successful candidates are eliminated and their votes reallocated according to their second preferences until one candidate has an absolute majority. Voters vote for candidates rather than political parties.
Two-Round System (TRS)	The Two-Round System is a plurality/majority system in which a second election is held if no candidate or party achieves a given level of votes, most commonly an absolute majority (50 per cent plus one), in the first election round. A Two-Round System may take a majority-plurality form-more than two candidates contest the second round and the one wins the highest number of votes in the second round is elected, regardless of whether they have won an absolute majority-or a majority run-off form-only the top two candidates in the first round contest the second round
List Proportional Representation (List PR)	Under a List Proportional Representation (List PR) system each party or grouping presents a list of candidates for a multi-member electoral district, the voters vote for a party, and parties receive seats in proportion to their overall share of the vote. In some (closed list) systems the winning candidates are taken from the lists in order of their position on the lists. If the lists are 'open' or 'free' the voters can influence the order of the candidates by marking individual preferences.
Single Transferable Vote (STV)	The Single Transferable Vote is a preferential system in which the voter has one vote in a multi-member district and the candidates that surpass a specified quota of first preference votes are immediately elected. In successive counts, votes are redistributed from least successful candidates, who are eliminated, and votes surplus to the quota are redistributed from successful candidates, until sufficient candidates are declared elected. Voters normally vote for candidates rather than political parties, although a party-list option is possible.
Mixed Member Proportional System (MMP)	Mixed Member Proportional is a mixed system in which the choices expressed by the voters are used to elect representatives through two different systems-one List PR system and (usually) one plurality/majority system-where the List PR system compensates for the disproportionality in the results from the plurality/majority system.
Parallel Systems	A Parallel System is a mixed system in which the choices expressed by the voters are used to elect representatives through two different systems-one List PR system and (usually) one plurality/majority system-but where no account is taken of the seats allocated under the first system in calculating the results in the second system.
Single Non-Transferable Vote (SNTV)	Under the Single Non-Transferable Vote system voters cast a single vote in a multi-member district. The candidates with the highest vote totals are declared elected. Voters vote for candidates rather than political parties.
Limited Vote (LV)	Limited Vote is a candidate-centred electoral system used in multi-member districts in which electors have more than one vote, but fewer votes than there are candidates to be elected. The candidates with the highest vote totals win the seats.
Borda Count (BC)	Borda Count (BC) - A candidate-centred preferential system used in either single- or multimember districts in which voters use numbers to mark their preferences on the ballot paper and each preference marked is then assigned a value using equal steps. These are summed and the candidate(s) with the highest total(s) is/are declared elected.
N	No provisions for direct elections.