Electoral systems are divided into three broad families: plurality/majority systems, proportional systems (PR), and mixed systems. However, some electoral systems do not fit into any particular family. These are SNTV, LV, and BC.
Plurality/majority systems are based on the principle thata candidate(s) or party with a plurality of votes (i.e. more than any other) or a majorityof votes (i.e. 50 per cent plus one?an absolute majority) is/are declared the winner(s).Such a system may use single-member districts?for example, First Past The Post,Alternative Vote or the Two-Round System?or multi-member districts?for example, the Block Vote and Party Block Vote.
(Proportional Representation) - An electoral system family based on the principle ofthe conscious translation of the overall votes of a party or grouping into a correspondingproportion of seats in an elected body. For example, a party which wins 30 per cent ofthe votes will receive approximately 30 per cent of the seats. All PR systems require theuse of multi-member districts. There are two major types of PR system, List PR and theSingle Transferable Vote (STV).
A system in which the choices expressed by voters are used to electrepresentatives through two different systems, one proportional representation systemand one plurality/majority system. There are two kinds of mixed system: Parallel systemsand Mixed Member Proportional systems.
