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6 march AJCP R and R electoral system Feb 2018.pdf (309.36 kB)

The workings of the single member plurality electoral system in India and the need for reform

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 13:11 authored by Rekha DiwakarRekha Diwakar
India uses single member plurality system (SMPS) to elect the members of the lower house of its national parliament and the state assemblies. Under SMPS, elections are conducted for separate geographical areas, known as constituencies or districts, and the electors cast one vote each for a candidate with the winner being the candidate who gets the plurality of votes. SMPS is traditionally defended primarily on the grounds of simplicity and its tendency to produce winning candidates, which promotes a link between constituents and their representatives. It tends to provide a clear-cut choice for voters between two main parties, and is expected to gives rise to single-party rather than coalition governments. It also has the benefit of excluding extremist parties from gaining representation, unless their support is geographically concentrated.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Asian Journal of Comparative Politics

ISSN

2057-8911

Publisher

Sage Publishing

Page range

1-21

Department affiliated with

  • Politics Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Sussex European Institute Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2018-05-21

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-05-21

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2018-05-07

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