Definition

Noun: A voting system based on the principle of proportional representation, where voters select from lists of candidates presented by political parties. The number of candidates elected from each party's list is proportional to the percentage of the total vote that list receives.

Usage

This term is used in political science and discussions of electoral systems to describe a specific method of voting and seat allocation. - The country adopted the scrutin de liste system to ensure a more accurate reflection of the electorate's preferences in parliament. - Under the scrutin de liste system, smaller parties have a better chance of winning representation than in a simple plurality system.

Advanced Usage

• The system is often contrasted with scrutin d'arrondissement (single-member district plurality system), where voters choose an individual candidate for their local district.
• It is a specific type of list-PR (list proportional representation) system. Variations exist, such as whether the list is closed (voters vote only for a party list, and the party determines the order of candidates elected) or open (voters can influence which candidates on the list are elected).

Variants and Related Words

• List system: A more general, synonymous term in English.
• Party-list proportional representation: The full descriptive term for this category of electoral systems.
• Proportional representation (PR): The broader principle underlying this system.

Synonyms

• List proportional representation
• Party-list system

Notes on Meaning

• The term is a direct borrowing from French (), meaning "list ballot" or "list voting."
• It specifically refers to the electoral mechanism, not the broader political outcomes. The primary goal of the system is to achieve proportional results.

Noun

1. based on the principle of proportional representation; voters choose between party lists, the number elected from each list being determined by the percentage cast for each list out of the total vote