Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.20901/pp.15.2.05
Number of electoral districts and territorial representation in the pr list system in Serbia 1992–2023
Dejan Bursać
orcid.org/0000-0002-2998-3990
; University of Belgrade, Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Serbia has been applying a closed-list proportional system for ten consecutive parliamentary electoral cycles, with single at-large district that encompasses the entire territory of the country. The consequences of this solution for territorial representation, that is, the representation of different parts of the country in the parliament, are highly negative: voters cast their vote for national lists as a whole, without influencing the order of candidates, and the system does not incentivize political parties to propose regionally balanced lists. The result is the hyper-representation of the capital city in the parliament, along with the underrepresentation of a significant number of cities and municipalities, and consequently, a lack of connection between elected representatives and local communities and voters, all of which affect the quality of representation in parliament. One way to mitigate this situation is to introduce multiple electoral districts within the existing system. Our country has such experiences, as proportional distribution with varying numbers of districts was applied in the elections for the National Assembly three times: in 1992, 1993, and 1997. The aim of this paper is to map the patterns of territorial representation in all electoral cycles since 1992, and in this way to examine the impact of a larger number of districts on the territorial representativeness of the parliament.
Keywords
political geography; territorial representation; PR list; electoral districts; elections
Hrčak ID:
342808
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2025.
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