You know how our electoral system? Do you know why a candidate for alderman who had fewer votes than another can become elected? Because your city does not have its second round? Why coalitions are made?
This are some doubts of many people in our country. No wonder, because the system adopted in Brazil is a bit complex and involves mathematical operations of addition, partisan interests that can confuse the head every citizen. Well, let us understand how our elections are made.
Brazil has adopted two sets of votes, the Majority and Proportional. The Majority is the one used in elections for President, Senator, Governor and Mayor. In this system the candidate who has more than 50% of the valid votes is elected. It is worth mentioning that in cities that have more than two hundred thousand voters in elections for president and for governor if the candidate does not achieve the 50% + 1 of the votes will be held the second round with the two most votes, the most votes being elected .
The proportional system that is used in elections of Representatives, State Representatives and Councilors. This system raises serious doubts as regards the votes that the party or party label won in the election. The filling of vacancies in the legislative houses (city councils, the Chamber of Deputies and state assembly) occurs through the simple process where first determines the electoral quotient and later the party quotient to arrive at a first result of the number of seats that each party is entitled in its legislative house.
The electoral quotient found by dividing the number of valid votes by the number of chairs placed in dispute to be filled. For example, if the city has 8,000 voters and 10 seats in the city council, the electoral quotient, or the number of votes needed to get the party chair is the result of dividing 8000 by 10, which equals 800 . So every 800 votes the party will get a chair.
The quotient party will find by dividing the number of votes the party received, say 2,400, the electoral quotient is 800. Then we have this party got 3 seats in the chamber will be filled by their candidates. Therefore, some candidates are elected with fewer votes, ie for supplementing those seats held by his party.
From there came the coalitions that are the union of parties to act as if they were one. In such cases the votes of the legend will be divided by electoral quotient (in the example was 800 votes), thus giving more chances to smaller parties.
Currently there is a big discussion about this system because as we understand the party's votes that determine the number of seats and not the votes of the elected candidate. From then on it was determined that the seat belongs to the party can no longer Councilman switch parties after being elected, under penalty of losing his mandate, since party loyalty must be understood as a basic principle of election.
Anyway, many criticize our electoral system claiming he is not as fair as it seems. We are left to understand it and await solutions. So, when you vote for your councilor try to understand the programs of his party and most importantly, copper and enforce when elected.
Let's apply this calculation in our last election for councilors. In the election of 2004 had 5334 valid votes for councilors, where the Coalition PP / PT / PTB / PFL / PSB got 3885 votes, the Coalition PDT / PMDB had 268 votes and councilors without Coalition had 1181 votes. Recalling that in our city vying to 9 seats in the City Council, so dividing the number of valid votes (5,334) by the number of chairs (9) gives us the electoral quotient (592).
From this we can calculate the number of seats for each party. We found that the number of seats of the first Coalition (PP / PT / PTB / PFL / PSB) dividing the number of votes (3885) by the electoral quotient (592), which results (6.54), so 7 chairs. Recalling that the fraction is rounded upward or downward depending on the proximity to the next numeral.
Second Coalition (PDT / PMDB) did not reach the electoral quotient therefore not entitled to any chair. The Coalition councilors without work like one. Thus, the number of valid votes (1181) divided by the electoral quotient (592) led his party quotient (1.9), leaving him two seats to be filled.
In the election explained above, the councilors Sandra Regina José Pinheiro and were elected by the mean. Remembering also that the merit is theirs, because they were the most votes among those not directly elected.
Source: Serra de Luís Gomes
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