Does Changing the Electoral System Really Improve Elections?

• In Event: Electoral Systems, Coordination, and Congruence

Abstract

It is often argued that changing electoral system will bring about a series of benefits in relation to the status quo. This is especially the case when the status quo electoral system is the first past the post electoral system. Almost any change away from that particular status quo is seen as likely to improve elections along some dimension such as turnout, choice of candidates, or competitiveness.
Examining these questions using national elections is often limited by the small number of cases making inferences less certain.

Beginning in 2001, however, New Zealand’s local governments were allowed to use STV in local elections. While the majority of Councils remained with first past the post, several shifted to STV. We exploit variation in this choice across 78 communities over seven election cycles and employ a difference in difference research design to examine the impact of electoral system changes.

We find decidedly mixed evidence in support of the change in electoral system having salutary effects on elections. While we need to be cautious in going beyond the specific circumstances of these elections, these results also suggest a need for caution in making claims for the benefits of electoral system reform.

Authors

• Shaun Bowler, University of California, Riverside

• Diogo Ferrari, University of California, Riverside

• Matthew Gibbons, Victoria University of Wellington

• Jack Vowles, Victoria University of Wellington