In this article you will learn about the Methods of Minority Representation in Political Science.
Methods of Minority Representation
There are several other methods of minority representation which can be used for giving some representation to the minorities.
1. Second Ballot System : In this method, each voter gets a single vote, there are created single member constituencies, and a candidate can win an election only when he gets at least 51% i.e. a clear and absolute majority of votes. In case in an election, no candidate gets 51% votes, the candidate with the lowest number of votes is declared defeated. Voting is held for a second time involving the remaining candidates. In case no candidate again gets 51% votes, again the candidate with the lowest number of votes is declared defeated and repolling involving the remaining candidates is done. The process is repeated till a candidate is in a position to get 51% votes.
Sometimes after the first voting when no candidate gets 51% votes, all candidates except the first two candidates get eliminated. A second ballot is held involving the first two candidates and whoever gets 51% votes becomes the winner and gets the seat. The principle of victory only through a real majority i.e. 51% ensures the role of majorities in the election of representatives of the people. Hence, it is deemed as a method of majority representation.
2. Cumulative Vote System : Under this method of minority representation, multi-member constituencies are created, each voter is given as many votes as is the number of representatives which are to be elected, each voter has the freedom to either give all his votes to any one candidate or distribute his votes among as many candidates as he wants or wishes. For example, if from a constituency three representatives are to be elected, each voter gets three votes. Each voter can give all his three votes either to one candidate or to two or three or maybe four candidates of his choice. Now the voters belonging to a minority community can get their candidates elected by accumulating all their votes behind their candidate/candidates. In this way, it is regarded as a method of minority representation.
3. Limited Vote System : Under this method of minority representation multi-member constituencies are created. Each voter is given several votes but decidedly one or two votes less than the number of representatives to be elected. For example if four representatives are to be elected from one constituency, each voter is given two or three votes. Now the majority community can get, at the maximum, two or three seats because each voter can exercise only two or three votes. The remaining seats naturally go to the minority communities.
4. Communal Electoral System : Under this system, the electorate is divided community-wise and each group of electorate gets the right to elect a fixed number of representatives. In this way each community, big or small, gets a representation. However, this is an unhealthy and harmful method. It destroys the social unity of the people by treating them as separate communities. Communal electorates were introduced in India by the British government in 1909. These were introduced as a part of the British policy of divide and rule. By introducing this evil system, the Britishers laid down the foundations for the partition of India on communal lines.
5. Reservation of Seats : Under this system, some seats are reserved for the minorities in the sense that only persons belonging to minorities can contest elections from the reserved seats i.e. constituencies. However, all the voters of each reserved constituency together participate in the pooling as one single electorate. It ensures the election of some representation of the minorities but without dividing the electorate.
6. Nomination System : Under this system, usually the head of the state is given the right to nominate some representatives of the minority communities to the legislature of the state. For example, the President of India has the right to nominate two representatives of the Anglo-Indian community to the Lok Sabha, in case he finds that this community has not got some representation in the House.
Thus, these are several well established methods of minority representation. These are used individually or simultaneously for giving representation to minorities. Every democratic political system always tries to give representation to minorities with a view to secure the integration of the interests of the minorities with the interests of the majority.
This article on Methods of Minority Representation in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.