A Critical Analysis: Proportional vs. Preferential Electoral Systems

This essay examines the differences between proportional and preferential electoral systems in Australia, arguing that proportional voting is fairer. The preferential system, where voters rank candidates, is seen as favoring major parties and disproportionately allocating seats. In contrast, the proportional system, particularly the single transferable voting system, allows voters to vote once, with votes transferable between candidates. This system ensures that candidates win when their votes exceed a quota, promoting fairer representation as all votes are counted without ranking biases. The essay concludes that the proportional system is superior because it allows people to vote according to their choices without the constraints of preferences or rankings, leading to a more equitable electoral outcome.

Running head: AUSTRALIAN POLITICS
Australian Politics
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1AUSTRALIAN POLITICS
Introduction
The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate the difference between the election systems in
Australia. The two kinds of electoral systems in Australia are proportional electoral voting and
preferential electoral voting. The elections are held to elect the members of the Australian
Senate. This is why it will be very much important to elect the members properly and in a fair
way. Otherwise there will be high chances of corruption within the country.
The main arguments
The main arguments can be listed below to prove that proportional electoral voting is
much fairer than the preferential electoral voting (Sinnott and Farrell 2017).
The preferential electoral system is the kind of voting system in which the candidates
have to be given the preference by the voters. This kind of electoral system is not at all crystal
clear since it always favors the major and strong political parties. This system always prefers the
party that has the largest number of votes where their seats are quite disproportionate (Sinnott
and Farrell 2017) This electoral system is merely a unique for the voting system in the country.
This always leaves a reflection on the number of the political parties that are smaller in number.
In this kind of electoral system, the voters go on to give the votes to their most favorite
candidates according to the ranking (Ahmed 2013).
The proportional electoral system is another voting system in Australia. This is a group of
electoral systems that is used to elect the candidates in the multi-member candidates (Bowler and
Donovan 2013) The independent candidates are selected by the common people under the parties
and groups. The members are selected in proportion to the selected votes. There is no use of the
ranking systems in this kind of electoral system. This is why it can be considered as a fairer

2AUSTRALIAN POLITICS
electoral system. Generally there are three systems by which the candidates are elected. These
three systems are list systems, mixed-member proportional system and single transferable voting
system (Ahmed 2013) In this context it can be said that proportional electoral system is much
better and fairer than the preferential electoral system just because the people can vote can only
once through the single transferable voting system. Each vote can be transferred between the
candidates in the election (Bowler and Donovan 2013).
In the proportional electoral system, the candidates can win when their votes exceed the
quota. The ballot papers are also used regarding the election of the candidates (Betzler, Slinko
and Uhlmann 2013). As the vote of all the people is counted in the proportional electoral system,
it will be very important to come to the conclusion that the proportional electoral system since
there is no ranking or preferences.
Conclusion
This essay can be concluded by saying that the proportional electoral system is much
better than the preferential electoral system. The former one is much better since all the people
can vote according to their choices and their votes are not used as per the first preferences or
rankings.

3AUSTRALIAN POLITICS
References
Ahmed, A., 2013. Democracy and the politics of electoral system choice: engineering electoral
dominance. Cambridge University Press.
Betzler, N., Slinko, A. and Uhlmann, J., 2013. On the computation of fully proportional
representation. Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research, 47, pp.475-519.
Bowler, S. and Donovan, T., 2013. The limits of electoral reform. Oxford: Oxford University
Press.
Sinnott, R. and FARRELL, D.M., 2017. The electoral system. In Politics in the Republic of
Ireland (pp. 109-130). Routledge.