| Feature |
First Past the Post (FPTP) |
Proportional Representation (PR) |
| Winner Selection |
The candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins. |
Seats are allocated based on the party’s overall vote share (Party List PR). |
| Representation of Parties |
Can lead to over/under-representation of parties. |
Seats closely reflect parties’ vote shares. |
| Voter Choice |
Vote for individual candidates. |
Often, vote for party lists, not individuals. |
| Governing Majorities |
Provides stability by allowing the ruling party/coalition to govern with a majority. |
May lead to coalition governments and diverse representation. |
| Political Diversity |
Tends to favour two-party systems. |
Encourages multi-party systems. |
| Geographical Representation |
The strong link between MPs and local constituencies. |
Weaker local ties, especially in list-based PR. |
| Simplicity |
Simple to understand and count. |
It can be more complex (depending on the specific PR system) |
| Wasted Votes |
High (votes for non-winning candidates don’t count). |
Low (most votes contribute to seat allocation). |
| Examples |
UK, US, India, Canada. |
Brazil, Argentina, South Africa. |
| Thresholds |
No minimum vote threshold. |
Often has a minimum vote % for representation (e.g., 3-5% vote share). |
| Minority Representation |
Can underrepresent minorities |
Better represents minority views |
| Extremist Parties |
Tends to marginalise |
May give a platform to extreme views |
| By-elections |
Required if MP resigns/dies |
Often filled from party lists |
