Electoral stasis

Electoral stasis

Electoral stasis is a condition occurring when an electorate can not realistically change itspolitical composition regardless of the swing occurring in a generalelection. [Citation
last = Lesslie
first = Stephen
author-link =
title = Electoral stasis
newspaper = Largest Remainder (newsletter of PRSA NSW)
pages = 2-5
year = 2008
date = 2008-06-10
url = http://electoralreformaustralia.org/pub/newsletter/largest_remainder-200806.pdf ]

A safe seat in a single member electoral system is one that is in electoralstasis.

Proportional representation systems, such as
Single transferable vote ballots, canalso be in electoral stasis. These “safe seats” can be ignored bypolitical party strategists who will allocate resources to otherelectorates.

In an electorate returning two members, the quota, (33.34%) is toolarge to be affected by swings in an election. For example, theTerritories in the Australian Senate, have always returned one member fromeach the two major parties.

In an electorate returning three members electoral stasis occurs whenthe weaker party is able to gain a quota (25.01%) The more popular partywill then win two seats and the weaker party one seat.

The smaller the number of members to be elected, the more likely that theelectorate will be in electoral stasis. To avoid an electorate being inelectoral stasis an electorate needs to return at least elevenmembers.

The larger the number of members returned by an electorate the greater thechance that a voter who changes his or her vote can influence the outcomeof the election.

ee Also

*
*Electoral system
*Poll
*Proportional representation

External Links

* [http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=02&year=2007&base_name=electoral_stasis Ezra Klein: Electoral stasis]

References


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