How equal is the electoral representation in municipalities? A study of disproportionality in Polish local councils

Abstract

The disproportionality is one of the main problems of political representation. Nonetheless, the empirical research on disproportionality in local councils occurs only as an exception. In our paper we demonstrate how disproportionality can be studied at the local level. Following van Puyenbroeck (2008), we distinguish the postulates of “equally treated voters” and “equally treated parties” which are the basis for the assessment of disproportionality. Using the results of recent Polish local elections (2010), we demonstrate how the disproportionality varies between the municipalities of different size, using different electoral formulae, how it is affected by the electoral districting, seat apportionment and local differences in turnout. Moreover, as a preparation for the empirical study of the electoral reform, effective in 2014 (November) elections, we formulate several hypotheses on how the introduction of single-member districts would affect political representation at the local level.