Why we need Electoral reforms

by Herbert A. Aponso

There seems to be an urgent need to hold the Parliamentary election under a mixed system of First-Past-the-Post (FPP) and Proportional Representation (PR). It has been reported in the media that

a) the SLFP insists that the forthcoming election be held only after electoral reforms, and

b) the Elections Commissioner states that it is not possible to enact electoral reforms in a hurry, especially if there has to be a change in the number of electorates, which needs the determination of a Delimitation Committee (DC). This seems to be a dilemma to everyone.

The recommendations of the Dinesh Committee as well of the systems in some other countries have been studied and considered in presenting the earlier proposal.”

Unfortunately the present form of PR has resulted in an inevitable struggle for preferential votes, and in-fighting among candidates of the same party (intra-party rivalry), which has on many occasions led to criminal violence and even murder. Another negative feature is that a single political party has often found it difficult to obtain a stable majority, thereby leading to alliances, which have resulted in large Cabinets.

Eliminating PR

A significant feature of the electoral system that is being proposal is that it eliminates preferential votes, which has been the bane of electioneering.

It would also promote a ore balanced representation of the voice of the people.

Each party would, quite understandably, favour a system that would promote the most number of seats (for the party), in the proposed mixed / “hybrid” system.

It is reckoned that an increase in the number of electorates would favour the established major parties as they are in a better position to win on the FPP, while the minorities would favour more seats allocated on a national PR basis as that would entitle them to secure seats even though they may fail to win electoral seats (on FPP).

Basic principles

There shall be four categories of MPs, as shown below and explained subsequently:

i) Elected MPs, one for each electorate (160 as at present, or an agreed number after the determination by a DC; this number may be 110, or more or less - to be decided by the policy planners / makers). Though obvious, it should be noted that a party could nominate only one candidate for each electorate. The balance number of MPs would be as follows, with an equal number in next two categories

ii) MPs chosen according a) to their electoral performance (on the basis of an E score, explained below, and in the last para) and

b) the number of seats earned by each party on the basis of the total votes received from all over the nation - this is the essence of PR - the election being for representation to a National Parliament These MPs are those who, though failing to get elected on the FPP (sometimes maybe by just a few votes), have the support of a large number of the citizens. The E score, which is being introduced as a new concept, measures / evaluates political stature acceptability and eligibility. iii) MPs nominated by each party, again according to PR, calculated on the total number of votes received throughout the country. It is suggested that these Nominated MPs should be selected mainly from only those (from a list previously announced ) with expertise / eminence, or representatives of groups such as minorities. However, in the interest of the minorities who may not have been able to get some of their key members through the categories i and ii, it is suggested, as an exception, that it would be fair and just that defeated candidates may be nominated with the stipulation that the number of such candidates does not exceed a stated number, say, 5 (number to be decided)

iv) Bonus Seats 5 seats to the party that commands a majority. This is a proposal to strengthen and promote stability of governance without the need to resort to fragile alliances and unnecessary compromises.

Explanations

There is a controversy whether the forthcoming election should be held on the basis of the existing 160 electorates, or whether it should be after the determination of a Delimitation Commission (DC).

Nimal Siripala de Silva has quite rightly pointed out that at present, there is a wide variation / difference in the numerical strength of the electorates, varying from 170,000 to 50,000; and that this needs correction .

Dr Rajitha Senaratne has mentioned that, in the context of the facilities now available, such as Google Search, etc, a DC should be able to finish its tasks within a short period of time On the above considerations, the best solution would be to await the DC report; it would then perhaps become necessary to postpone the election by a few weeks. If such a delay is reckoned to be contraindicated, there is the possibility of creating multiple seats in the large electorates and maintaining the status quo of the other electorates, as a temporary measure only for the forthcoming election. Such a decision would increase the number of elected MPs by perhaps 5 or 6, and thereby reduce the number of MPs on the PR basis. If it is decided to postpone the election by a few weeks (which seems to be to be the most rational), the following suggestions are forwarded;

i) take a policy decision on the number of electorates, whether it be 100, 110, or more; some parties which are confident on winning more seats would obviously want to have more electorates, while the minorities would favour more on the basis of PR .

ii) the DC to make their decisions re electorates accordingly; the number of Elected MPs thus determined

iii) the process of selection / nomination of the balance number of MPs has been mentioned above. It is based on the number of votes collected by a party on a nation-wide basis (i.e. PR), and on the E score, which (to repeat) is deemed to be a fair measure of the degree of acceptability, recognition, and stature as a Parliamentarian. The MPs would be chosen according to their E score and the number of seats available to their party. The E score is calculated as shown below:

Number of votes received

E score = ----------------- x 100

Total number of registered voters in the electorate

The writer is an Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics. He can be contacted at [email protected]