The PRSA advocates for the gold standard of electoral systems, PR-STV, because it aligns with the following principles:

  • The views of representatives should reflect the views of the electorate.
  • Members of representative bodies should be directly elected.
  • Each vote should have equal value.
  • Electors should have the maximum opportunity to indicate their democratic preferences.
  • Representative bodies should be able to form a majority.
  • Candidates should have an equal opportunity to attract votes.
  • A majority of votes should elect a majority of members.
PR-STV aligns with necessary principles of representative democracy. Image credit: PRSA.

As clarification, the principles oppose electoral systems:

  • That vary the value of votes.
  • That risk the ability of a representative body to form a majority.
  • Where representatives are indirectly elected, i.e. where voters do not explicitly mark preferences next to each candidate’s name.
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