‘Hybrid’ Electoral Reforms – Pros and cons
by Herbert A. Aponso
I have had some valuable comments and criticisms on Electoral Reforms
Proposal for a ‘hybrid’ system without preferential votes, published in
the newspapers about six weeks ago. Considering the various views that
have been expressed, I am now submitting some amendments to my original
proposal. I believe that this revised proposal would be more acceptable,
especially to minority groups (parties), as it would be a fairer system
to determine the number of seats on the basis of nation-wide
proportional representation.
Mr. Nimal Siripala de Silva has quite rightly pointed that, in the
election of MPs on the First-Past-the-Post System (FPP), the present
composition of 160 electorates needs to be revised as some electorates
have about 170,000 voters, while some are in the region of 50,000. I
wish to state that I had suggested that the present composition of 160
electorates be maintained at the forthcoming General Election only as a
temporary measure, so that elections could be held without delay. Mr.
Rajitha Senaratne has pointed out that, with the present advances in
computer science, a Delimitation Commission could act speedily, and
forward its report within a few weeks.
Therefore my first revision is that a Delimitation Commission should
immediately determine the number of electorates-some of which may
consist of more than one seat. For purposes of discussion, I suggest
that the number of MPs so elected (FPP) should be 100.
It is recommended that, in keeping with the basic principles
advocated in my earlier proposal, the total number of MPs be maintained
at the existing number – namely 225. They would consist of the following
four categories: (as explained below)
Elected – 100
Selected – 60
Nominated – 60
Bonus seats – 5
These numbers may be 110, 55, 55, 5 respectively or changed suitably.
1. 100 Elected MPs
For this purpose one political party would nominate only one
candidate for each electorate, the First-Past-the-Post being elected the
MP for that electorate. In the case of multiple seat electorates, there
would obviously be more than one candidate from each party.
2. 60 Selected MPs
The candidate who is Second-Past-the-Post (SPP) would be placed on a
national list to determine the ranking order of their degree of national
acceptability, based on a “Acceptability Score” (ACS), which is
calculated as shown below:
The noteworthy feature of this proposal is that it eliminates
preferential votes, while indirectly preserving proportional
representation at a national level.
3. 60 Nominated MPs
Each party would be allocated a number of Nominated MPs on the basis
of the total number of votes collected by the party, from all the
electorates in the country; this amounts to Parliamentary representation
for the whole country, based on PR. It is suggested that only those with
expertise / experience / eminence or representatives of groups such as
minorities, should be included in this list.
The noteworthy feature of increasing the number of seats (from the
original proposal) for Nominated members is that it would advantageous
to small parties.
Though they (the minority parties) may be unable to obtain seats
under the categories of Elected or Selected, they would still be able to
muster a cumulative number of votes from their supporters who are
scattered in all parts of the country.
4. Bonus Seats
Recommend 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.
The writer is Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics. |