ABSTRACT
In contrast, party list proportional representation is quite common in Europe. There have been perhaps seven broad types of electoral systems used in postwar Europe. First and most common are ‘standard’ party list proportional representation systems without very high thresholds or bonus seats as noted later. A related electoral system is mixed-member proportional, as used most notably in Germany. At the opposite extreme from proportional electoral systems are those that make no attempt at proportionality or indeed seek to achieve a majority for the lead party or coalition. Historically biased electoral system was used in Turkey in the 1950s and in Cyprus in 1976. Indeed, single transferable vote has the lowest overall disproportionality of all seven electoral system types, although this is driven in part by two-party Malta. Dieter Nohlen has suggested various ways in which electoral systems can penalize smaller parties and benefit larger ones.
