How many winners?
Single-member districts choose one representative. Multi-member districts can elect several.
← AFDES Civic AcademyComparative Democracy · Live Simulator
Electoral Systems
Votes do not translate themselves into political power. Electoral rules determine how ballots become winners, seats, and governing coalitions.
Run the simulator ↓Same Votes, Different Rules
Change the electoral formula without changing the electorate.
Adjust the four hypothetical vote shares, then switch systems. The model is intentionally simplified so you can isolate what the rule itself changes.
Shares are normalized to 100% automatically.
Plurality winner
Party A wins the seat.
The candidate with the most votes wins; an absolute majority is not required in this simplified single-member contest.
Teaching model: Real electoral systems include district magnitude, thresholds, formulas, ballot structure, geographic vote distribution, compensatory rules, and other design choices. National vote shares alone cannot predict seats in district-based systems.
Three Questions
Every electoral system answers a different design problem.
What counts as winning?
Plurality, majority, ranked, proportional, and mixed systems use different thresholds or formulas.
What is represented?
Systems balance geography, parties, candidates, proportionality, governability, and voter choice differently.
Sources & Further Reading