P. R and its Pitfalls in Modern-Day Democray
Amb. Penpusher Connecting the Dots….
Proportional representation (PR) is a term used to describe a range of electoral systems in which the distribution of seats closely corresponds with the proportion of the total votes cast for each party or individual candidate.
The PR system offers alternatives to first past the post and other majoritarian voting systems based on single-member electoral areas, which tend to produce disproportionate outcomes and to have a bias in favour of larger political groups.
Though PR systems by contrast and chance tend to offer a better possibility of representation to smaller parties and groups, its contrast doesn’t tend to nurture democracy and in fact not suitable for modern-day democracy.
This system is therefore disadvantageous to the electorates in general.
Underneath are some of the minuses of the PR system in modern-day democracies like ours.
First, even though it weakens the link between the elected representatives and their constituents, it also possesses greater complexity and choice that can put voters off voting, by requiring them to have a greater knowledge of individual and party positions.
Importantly, it can reduce accountability to voters and creates room for underperformance and egregious corruption.
The P.R system by all indications can’t thrive well in modern-day democracy as it makes it strenuous for the voices of the electorates to be heard.
Therefore, ECSL should rethink and make informed decisions in maintaining the simple First Past the Post System (Constituency Elections) as it gives leverage to the masses to hold their leaders accountable.
