Fabrizio Balli
Regione Toscana
Abstract
This paper adapts the concept of disproportionality, commonly used in electoral studies, to the context of territorial representation. This is relevant to all cases where the number of representatives assigned to electoral districts in not predetermined, but is an outcome of the electoral process, as is the case in Italy for regional elections. Drawing on a case study of the system currently in force in Tuscany, the article shows that some districts may result markedly overrepresented, while others are subject to the opposite trend. Also,the specific legal provisionsgiving rise to such phenomena are identified and discussed. Finally, the work shows how territorial disproportionality indexes may assist lawmakers in finding optimal rules, in a law and statistics perspective.
Keywords
apportionment, disproportionality, election law, representation.
Jel Codes
K16, D72
