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The vote linkage[1][2][3][4] or (multi-tier) vote transfer system[5] is type of compensatory mixed electoral system, where votes may be transferred across multiple tiers of an electoral system, in order to avoid wasted votes - in contrast to the more common seat linkage compensatory system (commonly referred to as MMP).[6] It often presupposes and is related to the concept of the mixed single vote, which means that the same vote can be use in multiple tiers of an electoral system and that a vote for a local candidate may automatically count as a vote for the candidate's party or the other way around[note 1]. Voters usually cast their single vote for a local candidate in a single-member district (SMD) and then all the wasted votes from this lower tier are added to distribute seats between upper tier candidates, typically national party lists.
Partially compensatory multi-tier vote linkage[7][8] is an equivalent of the indirect single transferable vote among multi-tiered electoral systems (except for the mixed ballot transferable vote versions, which are multi-tier equivalents to STV). A related concept is seat linkage, where it is not the votes used in one tier that connect two tiers, but the number of seats a party achieved on the lower tier that is taken into account. A vote linkage system, when applied in a compensatory way takes into account the number of votes that were effective or wasted in the lower tier and takes this into account in the apportionment of the upper tier.
Vote linkage systems currently or formerly used for various national or local elections in Germany, Hungary and Italy have been sometimes described as mixed-majoritarian[7][8] (similar to common versions of parallel voting), or a unique system between MMM and MMP (seat linkage). Some supermixed systems use vote linkage together with parallel voting (superposition) in a two-vote setup, where split ticket voting is allowed.[4][9] How proportional the outcome is depends on many factors including the vote transfer rules, such which votes are recounted as party list votes, and other parameters (e.g. the number of list seats) used in the system.[5] The vote linkage system originates from Germany and is currently used in Hungary. A version called scorporo was also used in Italy from 1993 to 2005.[2]
- ^ Gallagher, Michael, and Paul Mitchell. "Dimensions of variation in electoral systems." The Oxford handbook of electoral systems (2018): 23.
- ^ a b Golosov, Grigorii V. "The case for mixed single vote electoral systems." Journal of Social, Political, and Economic Studies 38.3 (2013): 317-345.
- ^ Baldini, Gianfranco, et al. "Mixed-member Systems." Elections, Electoral Systems and Volatile Voters (2009): 80-94.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
:3was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Bochsler, D (2014). "Which mixed-member proportional electoral formula fits you best? Assessing the proportionality principle of positive vote transfer systems". Representation. 50: 113–127. doi:10.1080/00344893.2014.902222. S2CID 153691414.
- ^ Massicotte, Louis (April 2003). "To create or to copy? electoral systems in the German Länder". German Politics. 12 (1): 1–22. doi:10.1080/09644000412331307494. ISSN 0964-4008.
- ^ a b Nishikawa, Misa; Herron, Erik S. (2004-12-01). "Mixed electoral rules' impact on party systems". Electoral Studies. 23 (4): 753–768. doi:10.1016/j.electstud.2003.10.004. ISSN 0261-3794.
- ^ a b https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/39937848.pdf.
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