In the literature, the term "electoral system" is described in two meanings. In a broad sense, this concept refers to social relations directly related to the elections and making up their order. They are regulated by constitutional law, as well as the norms established by public associations. Traditions and customs, norms of political ethics and morality play an important role in this.
They single out the basic principles of the electoral system: universality, free participation in elections and equal rights of citizens in the process, mandatory vote, competitiveness, equal opportunities for all applicants, “transparency” of the conduct and preparatory work.
Accordingly, under the electoral system
we can understand the mechanism by which state power and self-government are formed in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. This process includes several main points: a system of bodies fixed by law that is directly entrusted with the powers to carry out activities and conduct the election campaign; as well as the activities of legal entities and political structures.
In the narrow sense of the word, this system is considered as a method enshrined in legal acts, which allows establishing the election results and distributing deputy mandates. This process directly depends on the voting results.
The main
types of electoral systems are determined, first of all, by the principles of formation of
rgana of power. In different states they are different. However, thanks to the centuries-old experience of
representative democracy , two main types were distinguished: majority and proportional. These types of electoral systems, or rather their elements, find themselves in other diverse models.
The majority system is based on personal representation in power. Therefore, as a candidate for the position, a certain person is always nominated here. Moreover, the mechanism of nomination can be different: some types of electoral systems allow self-nomination of candidates, for example, from public associations, while others require candidates to run exclusively from political parties. However, at any balance of power in the
majority district, consideration is done on a personal basis. Therefore, a capable, adult citizen, having come to the polls, will vote for a specific person as an independent unit of the described process.
As a rule, those types of electoral systems, which are based on the majority, hold elections in single-mandate constituencies. Moreover, the number of such districts directly depends on the number of mandates. The winner is the campaign participant who receives the most votes from the constituency.
Proportional system.
It is based on the principle of party representation. Accordingly, in this case, it is they who nominate lists of certain candidates for whom it is proposed to cast their vote. The types of electoral systems based on proportionality actually offer to vote for a political party that protects the interests of certain layers. The mandates shall be distributed proportionally in accordance with the number of votes cast (in percentage terms).
Places in the authority that the party received are taken by people from the list put forward by it and in accordance with its priority. Usually they are received by the first 90 candidates from the corresponding list.
Mixed system
Attempts to maximize the use of the types of electoral systems described above have led to the emergence of mixed systems. Their essence boils down to the fact that part of the deputies are elected according to the majority system, and part - according to the proportional. Accordingly, the voter has the opportunity to vote both for the candidate and for the political party. This system was used in Russia when choosing deputies of the State Duma of the first four convocations.