COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN FIRST-PAST-THE- POST SYSTEM (FPTP) AND PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION (PR) SYSTEM

Abstract

The purpose of this research paper is to draw a comparative analysis of the two most contested electoral systems, the ‘First-Past-The-Post’ (FPTP) system and the Proportional Representation (PR) system which predominantly serve as a moot point in many types of governments in many countries, transcending boundaries and continents; to answer questions on electoral legitimacy and governance. The FPTP, a form of plurality voting system, is a type of an electoral system in which people cast their votes to the candidate of their choice and the candidate with the highest number of votes wins. This is a widely adopted system across many polyarchies, democracies and Parliamentary forms of government. On the other hand, the PR system simply put, is a type of a voting mechanism adopted by most countries that seek to put forth their diverse representation of electoral candidates which often result in forming multi-party coalitions, as the number of seats to the elected candidates/ Parties stand in proportion to the number of votes cast to them. Case studies of two countries each from the FPTP or the ‘Simple Majority’ type of voting system and that of the Proportional Representation or the ‘Single Transferable Vote’ electoral system would be critically analysed, following with a thorough comparison of the working of the two systems in the countries under consideration will be done. The paper seeks not only to distinguish between the two systems of voting, but also assess their working across nations and countries of governance to check their viability, efficiency and their effectiveness in the voting of leaders and their accountability to the people therein.