Proportional Representation in Iraq

On the eve of a likely an Election call in Canada there is another election coming soon half a world away, in Iraq.

Iraq the Model has a good explanation of the new election scenario for Iraqis.

each province will constitute one circle and a certain number of seats will be allocated to each province/circle according to its population count.

These 18 circles collectively will make up 230 of the 275 seats of the parliament while the remaining 45 seats are going to be allocated what is now known as the compensatory national circle.
This national circle was made to serve voters living outside Iraq since their votes cannot be related to particular provinces.

The National “circle” is filled by the “extra” votes in the provinces for parties. The Extra votes are votes that are over and above the 20,000 needed to elect a representative. If, when combined from all the provinces, these extra votes are enough to pass the 20,000 votes needed to fill one seat, then the party grabs one (or more), of those extra 45 seats.

This system is not dissimilar to the Single Transferrable Vote system that British Columbians nearly approved last year.

The BC Government has committed to revisiting the electoral reform question (59% is hard to ignore)… this is one area where Iraqis are getting a head start, even as their democracy is only in their infancy. Hopefully Canadians, or at least British Columbians aren’t too far behind.

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