How e dey work, well well
Each voter pick one list, no mixing. Di list wey lead collect 50 % of di seats one time — na di majority bonus.
Dem share di remaining 50 % proportionally among ALL lists wey pass di threshold, including di leading list, wey therefore collect far pass im share of votes.
For municipal elections, second round dey happen if no list reach absolute majority, and qualified lists fit merge — na why negotiation between rounds important well well.
Example wey get figures
Twenty seats, three lists, majority bonus of 50 %.
| List | Votes | Bonus | Proportional | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 45 % | 10 | 4 | 14 |
| B | 35 % | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| C | 20 % | 0 | 2 | 2 |
- List A, wey lead, collect 10 out of 20 seats one time.
- Dem share di remaining 10 seats proportionally among di three lists.
- A get 14 seats out of 20, na 70 % of di assembly with 45 % of di votes.
Di distortion no be mistake: na di whole point of di mechanism. Governing majority dey come out di same night, and di price wey dem accept na say di other lists no get full representation.
Where e come from
List voting with majority bonus na di law of 19 November 1982 fix am for French communes of 3,500 people and above; e end pure majority list voting and bring small proportionality.
Di same law create di special regime of Paris, Lyon and Marseille (dem call am PLM), with elections by sector — mechanism wey don several times produce mayor wey no lead di city-wide vote.
Dem extend di principle go regional elections, with bonus reduced to 25 % of seats, through di reforms of 1999 and 2003. Di logic no change: to arbitrate openly between representation and power to govern.
Where dem dey use am
- French municipal elections for communes of 1,000 people and above.
- Regional elections, with 25 % bonus.
- To elect committee or board from competing slates.
- Any assembly wey must represent people and still fit decide.
Limits and wahala
- E give stable majority to govern
- E still represent minority
- One ballot, very simple
- E over-represent di winning list well well
- Di list leader hold plenty power
- Di 5% threshold comot small lists
Questions wey people dey ask
Why majority bonus?
To avoid councils wey no fit govern. Without am, commune fit spend six years without stable majority. Na governability choice, wey dem pay with representation.
Di leading list dey collect proportional seats too?
Yes. E collect di bonus AND im proportional share of di remaining seats, na why e dey often reach 70 % of di assembly.
E dey useful outside municipal matter?
Anytime you dey elect team wey must work together, no be independent individuals. For plain options, e too much.