Electoral threshold
Topic: Elections and the Electoral System · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 3 "Election and Representation"
Meaning
An electoral threshold is the minimum share of votes a party must win before it gets any seat. It is used in proportional representation (PR), a system in which each party gets a share of seats equal to its share of votes. The threshold keeps very small parties out, so the legislature does not split into too many tiny groups.
Example
In Israel, a party needs at least 3.25% of the votes to win any seat in the 120-member Knesset. A party that gets 2% of the votes wins no seat, even though 2% of 120 would be more than two seats.
Don't confuse with
- Electoral quota: this is the number of votes a single candidate needs to win a seat under the single transferable vote. A threshold applies to a party's share of all votes.