Negative vote weight

Negative vote weight (also known as inverse success value) refers to an effect that occurs in certain elections where votes can have the opposite effect of what the voter intended. A vote for a party might result in the loss of seats in parliament, or the party might gain extra seats by not receiving votes.

The effect that a vote for a party might result in the loss of a seat is contrary to the requirement that every vote in a democratic election should have the same weight. It also violates the requirement that the vote may not explicitly run counter to the intention of the voter.

Situation in Germany

Due to the election law currently in effect in Germany, the phenomenon of negative vote weight occurred in several past federal elections, including the election in 2009. The Federal Constitutional Court of Germany however ruled on 3 July 2008 that this is unconstitutional (that negative vote weight is incompatible with the constitutional guarantee of equality and directness) and that the law must be changed by 30 June 2011.

Situation elsewhere

Negative vote weight is possible in national elections in the Czech Republic. It can also occur in some of Austria's states' local elections. In both cases, however, the incidence is lower and the effect less pronounced than in Germany.

Other types

Negative vote weight can occur in popular referendums that have a vote quorum (where the proposed change is considered only if a minimum number of people vote). A vote against the proposal can cause the quorum to be satisfied and thus result in the acceptance of the proposal. For this reason, some popular referendums aim for an approving quorum where the proposed change is only considered if a minimum number of people must vote for the proposal.

See also

• Alabama paradox
• Participation criterion