A special form of PR is to be used in the June 2023 national election in the western African country of Sierra Leone .
Other than the president thing and votes not cast for indiv. candidates, I like the Sierra Leone PR system -- it was challenged in courts but "The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone has ruled that the 2023 Elections will be conducted using the District Block Representation System — Proportional Representation System." here is an online article explaining PR and SL's PR in particular https://sewachronicle.com/proportional-representation-in-sierra-leone-2023-d5399f230ce0 from wiki "Districts of Sierra Leone" The provinces of Sierra Leone are divided into 16 districts, as of July 2017.[1][2] Previously, the country was divided into 14 districts. The Western Area is divided into two districts. Sierra Leone's capital Freetown is located in the Western Area of the country and its makes up the Western Area Urban District. Provinces of Sierra Leone - Wikipedia One traditional leader from each district occupies a seat in Sierra Leone's parliament. Each one of Sierra Leone's sixteen administrative districts (with the exception of the Western Area Urban District) is governed by a directly elected district council headed by a council chairman. they took the existing organic division already on the ground and make each one a MMD, allocating the number of members that is fair. rural districts vary in size from 3100 sq kms (pop. 300,000) to 12,000 sq. kms (pop 400,000 pop.) most populous rural district is Bo 600,000 pop (5200 sq. kms.) one city district the capital Freetown has 1M pop. (pop. figures vary) it is notable for its small geographic size 13 sq. kms. next to the capital is a district covering just the rest of the Western district suburbs? 115 sq. kms with 444,000 people each district has number of seats as per its pop. (about 60,000 pop per seat notionally but lots of variation in part due to the old number of seats the district had ) see table C on page 10 in Public Elections (District Block Proportional Representation System) Regulations, 2022 - SierraLII there is some confusion on numbers of MPs in the districts I see The Parliament of Sierra Leone is unicameral, with 146 seats. Each of the country's 14 districts is represented in parliament. 132 members are elected concurrently with the presidential elections; the other 16 seats are filled by paramount chiefs from the country's 16 administrative districts.[117]
but 132 plus 16 is 148 not 146. I think perhaps it goes like this: 132 MPs and 14 paramount chief MPs = 146 (two districts don't have a PCMP) largest seat count per district is Western Urban (Freetown capital city) with 16 seats range goes down to only 4. party voting makes it simpler for voters (although at expense of flexibility, etc. multiple seats means more than FPTP's one party can be represented in each district. multiple seats means threshold for party to win a seat (Hare quota is used) ranges from 25 percent of votes to 7 percent. and then each seat is awarded to number of votes equivalent to about each .8 of that threshold (if 1/5th of votes go to parties not eligible for rep.) as per this somewhat convoluted explanation unicameral, with 146 seats. Each of the country's 14 districts is represented in parliament. 132 members are elected concurrently with the presidential elections; the other 16 seats are filled by paramount chiefs from the country's 16 administrative districts.[117] seats ("constituencies") in each are allocated to parties as per the Election Act p. 133 found in this online place https://ecslmedia.ec.gov.sl/pdfviewer/public-elections-act-2022-2/?auto_viewer=true#page=3&zoom=auto&pagemode=bookmarks (described quite clearly in the first link above) ======== Seats allocated to parties quota (hare) is derived from total valid votes in district any party whose share of votes is less than quota is dropped out.
(or rule might be that any party with votes less than about 12 percent is out of the running) highest remainder system is used to allocate dist. seats the share of votes of parties eligible for representation are added together the sum is divided by the number of seats giving the percentage per seat each eligible party vote share is divided by the percentage per seat whole number are allocated to parties, if seats are still left to be allocated, parties with largest unused fractions are given seats. if tie, then seat goes to party who is most under-represented (based on number of votes dividd by seats already won) very fair although party based (voters cannot vote for indiv. candidates) in example given, 22 percent of valid votes went to parties below threshold. so those are ignored. all other votes used effectively to elect someone as per party list. Sierra Leone has past history of PR but change to PR is said to be beset with problems according to this article: The PR system is not entirely new to Sierra Leone; it was used in the country’s post-independence elections and then again in 1996 and 2002. However, with over 80% of the country’s population under the age of 35, most voters today have no experience with this electoral system. The switch to proportional representation has paved the way for mistrust among voters, with some believing the changes were made to manipulate the electoral process in favor of President Bio and the ruling SLPP. Proportional representation will be operationalized at the parliamentary level through the establishment of 16 district blocks, in which political parties must gain a minimum of 11.9 percent of the vote to win seats. [actually threshold varies depending on DM, down to as little as 7 percent]
Seats will be allocated among the various districts using the averages of the population figures from the last two censuses, despite both the 2015 and the 2021 censuses receiving criticism from domestic opposition and external stakeholders who raised concerns about the integrity of the results. The suspicion surrounding these figures has only been heightened by the release of 2023 voter registration data, which contradicts many of the alleged changes in population recorded in the 2021 census. Nevertheless, the Southern and Eastern districts will now have 62 parliamentary seats as opposed to 57 under the previous single member district system. The Northern and Western districts, including Freetown, will have 73 seats compared to their current 75. The redistribution of parliamentary seats, in addition to the lack of familiarity with the PR system, creates the potential for confusion and disorder on election day and in its immediate aftermath. This is even more concerning given the history of violence in Sierra Leonian politics. Public Elections (District Block Proportional Representation System) Reg... ... Uncertainty remains among voters and officials alike as to how the new electoral process will unfold. Through the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) mechanism, IRI has been actively supporting civil society in close collaboration with the Electoral Commission to conduct civic and voter education activities focused on the PR system and other recent electoral reforms. IRI and civil society partners have also been actively promoting anti-violence initiatives and urging voters throughout the country to refrain from political and electoral violence. from IRI Helping to Close Voter Education Gaps in Sierra Leone IRI Helping to Close Voter Education Gaps in Sierra Leone BJensen On Saturday, June 24, Sierra Leoneans will cast their ballots in the fifth multi-tier elections since the country... Hopefully PR will help solve some of the country's problems so other than party bosses' involvement in formulating closed lists, and the problem of imbalance in district DM, (and all the other problems besetting the country), it should be a good process.
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early version of above with notes and additional info.
Other than the president thing and vote not cast for indiv. candidates, I like their system --
it was challenged but
The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone has ruled that the 2023 Elections will be conducted using the District Block Representation System — Proportional Representation System.
here is an online article explaining PR and SL's PR in particular
from wiki "Districts of Sierra Leone"
The provinces of Sierra Leone are divided into 16 districts, as of July 2017.[1][2] Previously, the country was divided into 14 districts. The Western Area is divided into two districts. Sierra Leone's capital Freetown is located in the Western Area of the country and its makes up the Western Area Urban District. Provinces of Sierra Leone - Wikipedia Freetown - Wikipedia Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean and is l... One traditional leader from each district occupies a seat in Sierra Leone's parliament. Each one of Sierra Leone's sixteen administrative districts (with the exception of the Western Area Urban District) is governed by a directly elected district council headed by a council chairman. they took the existing organic division already on the ground and make each one a MMD, allocating the number of members that is fair. rural districts vary in size from 3100 sq kms (pop. 300,000) to 12,000 sq kms (pop 400,000 pop.) most populous rural district is Bo 600,000 pop (5200 sq. kms.) one city district (Western Urban) the capital Freetown has 1M pop. it is notable for its small geographic size 13 sq. kms. next to capital is a district covering just the rest of the Western district suburbs? 115 sq. kms with 444,000 people each district has number of seats as per its pop. as per this somewhat convoluted explanation Sierra Leone Regions Eastern Region [this info is wrong -- it should be 32] The region is divided into 3 districts (constituencies in brackets) : Kailahun (10), Kenema (11), and Kono (9) districts. For the purpose of electing members of parliament and Councilors to the Eastern region, the region is divided into 30 constituencies and 99 wards respectively. (Source — Electoral Commission) Northern Region The region is divided into 4 districts (constituencies in brackets): Bombali (8), Falaba (4), Koinadugu (4), Tonkolili (10) districts. For the purpose of electing members of parliament and Councilors to the Northern region, the region is divided into 26 constituencies and 89 wards respectively. (Source — Electoral Commission) North Western Region The region is divided into 3 districts (constituencies in brackets) : Kambia (6), Karene (5), Port Loko (10) districts. For the purpose of electing members of parliament and Councilors to the North Western region, the region is divided into 21 constituencies and 75 wards respectively. (Source — Electoral Commission) Southern Region The region is divided into 4 districts (constituencies in brackets): Bo (11), Bonthe (4), Pujehhun (6), Moyamba(6) districts. For the purpose of electing members of parliament and Councilors to the North Southern region, the region is divided into 27 constituencies and 108 wards respectively. (Source — Electoral Commission) Western Urban The region is divided into constituencies and wards. For the purpose of electing members of parliament and Councilors to the Western Urban District, the region is divided into 20 constituencies and 48 wards respectively. (Source — Electoral Commission) Western Rural The region is divided into various constituencies, wards, and villages. For the purpose of electing members of parliament and Councilors to the Western Rural district, the region is divided into 8 constituencies and 27 wards respectively. (Source — Electoral Commission ============ districts thus look like this Eastern region 30 [should be 32] Kailahun (10), Kenema (11) Kono (9) ========== Northern Region 26 Bombali (8), Falaba (4), Koinadugu (4), Tonkolili (10) North Western 21 Kambia (6), Karene (5), Port Loko (10) Southern 27 Bo (11), Bonthe (4), Pujehhun (6), Moyamba(6) districts. western urban 20 Western rural 8 total 132 MP seats [should be 135] 14 for chiefdoms (PCMPs) total parliament seats 149 =======================================
Seats allocated to parties seats ("constituencies") in each are allocated to parties as per the election act p. 133 foiund in this online place https://ecslmedia.ec.gov.sl/pdfviewer/public-elections-act-2022-2/?auto_viewer=true#page=3&zoom=auto&pagemode=bookmarks quota (Hare) is derived from total valid votes in district any party whose share of votes is less than quota is dropped out. highest remainder system is used to allocate dist. seats the share of those eligible for representation are added together the sum is divided by the number of seats giving you percentage per seats each eligible party vote share is divided by the percentage per seat whole number are allocated to parties, if seats left to be allocated, parties with largest unused fractions are given seats. if tie, then seat goes to party who is most under-represented (based on number of votes divided by seats already won) very fair although party based (voters cannot vote for indiv. candidates) in example given, 22 percent of valid votes went to parties below threshold. so those are ignored. all other votes used effectively to elect someone as per party list. Sierra Leone has past history of PR but change to PR is said to be beset with problems according to this article: The PR system is not entirely new to Sierra Leone; it was used in the country’s post-independence elections and then again in 1996 and 2002. However, with over 80% of the country’s population under the age of 35, most voters today have no experience with this electoral system. The switch to proportional representation has paved the way for mistrust among voters, with some believing the changes were made to manipulate the electoral process in favor of President Bio and the ruling SLPP. Proportional representation will be operationalized at the parliamentary level through the establishment of 16 district blocks, in which political parties must gain a minimum of 11.9 percent of the vote to win seats. [actually threshold varies depending on DM] Seats will be allocated among the various districts using the averages of the population figures from the last two censuses, despite both the 2015 and the 2021 censuses receiving criticism from domestic opposition and external stakeholders who raised concerns about the integrity of the results. The suspicion surrounding these figures has only been heightened by the release of 2023 voter registration data, which contradicts many of the alleged changes in population recorded in the 2021 census. Nevertheless, the Southern and Eastern districts will now have 62 parliamentary seats as opposed to 57 under the previous single member district system. The Northern and Western districts, including Freetown, will have 73 seats compared to their current 75. The redistribution of parliamentary seats, in addition to the lack of familiarity with the PR system, creates the potential for confusion and disorder on election day and in its immediate aftermath. This is even more concerning given the history of violence in Sierra Leonian politics. Public Elections (District Block Proportional Representation System) Reg... ... Uncertainty remains among voters and officials alike as to how the new electoral process will unfold. Through the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) mechanism, IRI has been actively supporting civil society in close collaboration with the Electoral Commission to conduct civic and voter education activities focused on the PR system and other recent electoral reforms. IRI and civil society partners have also been actively promoting anti-violence initiatives and urging voters throughout the country to refrain from political and electoral violence. from IRI Helping to Close Voter Education Gaps in Sierra Leone Hopefully PR will help solve some of these problems Electoral changes may boost Sierra Leone ruling party | Emerald Insight Electoral changes may boost Sierra Leone ruling party IRI Helping to Close Voter Education Gaps in Sierra Leone BJensen On Saturday, June 24, Sierra Leoneans will cast their ballots in the fifth multi-tier elections since the countr... Public Elections Act 2022 - ECSL Media Resources Public Elections Act 2022 - ECSL Media Resources
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