Bring out the differences between First Past the Post (FPTP) system and Proportional Representation system of elections. Analyse the limitations in FPTP system and suggest options for ensuring a true democracy.
IAS Parliament 7 years
MODEL ANSWER
Comparison of FPTP and PR system of election
| FPTP | PR |
| The country is divided into small geographical units called constituencies or district. | Large geographical areas are demarcated as constituencies. The entire country may be a single constituency |
|
Every constituency elects one representative | More than one representative may be elected from one constituency |
| Voter votes for a candidate | Voter votes for the party |
| A party may get more seats than votes in the legislature | Every party gets seats in the legislature in proportion to the percentage of votes that it gets |
| Candidate who wins the election may not get of majority (50%+1) votes | Candidate who wins the elections gets majority votes. |
| Examples: U.K., India | Examples: Israel, Netherlands |
· Demerits of FPTP - Excludes smaller parties, minorities, and womens’ from fair representation.
· A party with even 20% share does not get a single seat, while a party with 28% can get disproportionately large number of seats because of a division of votes.
· Encourage the development of political parties based on clan, ethnicity or region.
· It is not suitable for multi party democracy representing multiple interests.
· It doesn’t reflect the true aspirations of majority people.
· True democracy couldn’t exist without reflection of majority aspirations.
· Solutions - Recommendations of the Law Commission’s 170th and 255th report should be implemented. (i.e.) A mix of both first-past-the-post and proportional representation should be tried (Hybrid Electoral System)
· The past experiences of other countries which have been following the system of proportional representation in addition to direct election should be studied to devise an effective system.
