Estonia
Parliamentary Elections
Electoral system
- Unicameral parliament
- Name: Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu)
- Members: 101
- Term: 4 years
- Constituencies: 12 multi-member (6 to 13 seats, according to population) constituencies (11 in 1995 and 1999)
- Voting system: 1990-1991: Multi-member constituencies. Single Transferable Vote. 499 for Estonian citizens, 43 for those applying to Estonian citizenship.
Since 1994: Proportional: Direct party-list voting with proportional distribution of seats in three rounds of counting according to a simple electoral quotient. The distribution of leftover "compensation mandates" (26 seats) takes place on the basis of a modified d'Hondt method. Candidates are listed on the ballot paper on which each elector indicates his or her choice. In determining the electoral results, a simple quotient is calculated for each district by dividing the number of valid votes cast by the number of seats allocated to the district; each candidate who obtains more votes than this quotient is declared elected. Moreover, candidates presented on party lists are enumerated by order of votes obtained; each of these lists is allocated a number of seats equal to the number of times its votes obtained exceed the quotient, those candidates receiving the most votes being declared elected. Finally, mandates not assigned at the district level are distributed as national "compensation mandates" on the basis of a modified d'Hondt method among those parties and electoral coalitions whose candidates obtained at least 5% of the national vote. - Voter requirements: 18 years of age; Estonian citizenship
- Voting is not compulsory
Latest elections
Election results 2011, main parties. NUTS 3
Sources
Stöver, Philip, and Andreas Wüst. 2005. Electoral Systems.
Estonian Electoral Commission website.
Inter-Parliamentary Union, PARLINE database on national parliaments
Constituency-Level Elections Archive (CLEA): country descriptions.
