Political Parties. The Comparative Study of Electoral Systems. Electoral System Design. The choice of electoral system is one of the most important institutional decisions for any democracy.
Electoral systems define and structure the rules of the political game; they help determine who is elected, how a campaign is fought, the role of political parties, and most importantly, who governs. Furthermore, the choice of an electoral system can help to "engineer" specific outcomes, such as to encourage cooperation and accommodation in a divided society. Historically, however, it has been rare that electoral systems are deliberately chosen or carefully designed for the particular historical and social conditions of a country.
In some cases, the choice has reflected the impact of colonialism; in others, the influence of neighbouring systems. IFES Election Guide. Election Updates. Election Resources. World Elections.