Direct Party and Representative Voting

Direct Party and Representative Voting (DPR) is an electoral system for parliamentary democracies designed to replace the First past the post (FPTP) voting system. It is a form of Proportional Representation based on single member constituencies.

Voters have two separate and distinct votes. One vote determines the party voting power in the Parliament, and one vote elects the MP (or representative) for the constituency.

The party votes, aggregated nationwide, determine the voting power of each parliamentary party.

MPs are elected by simple plurality in each constituency.

MPs exercise their party’s voting power. The Party voting power is shared out equally amongst the parties sponsored MPs, so each MP has a vote that has a value which may be more or less than one. Each MP has an equal vote on ‘non party political’ issues.

Principal outcomes:


 * A form of proportional representation is achieved with minimal change to the voting system.
 * The existing system of single member constituencies is retained.
 * The existing system of electing MPs is retained.
 * The elections of the MP and the party of government are not conflated, improving voter choice.
 * There are no safe ‘party’ seats.
 * Voting in marginal constituencies cannot determine the election of the Government.
 * Simplicity of voting and counting is comparable with FPTP.
 * Each vote in every constituency makes a difference to the result of the election.
 * Voting power in parliament is proportional, there is no party bias.
 * Frequent revision to constituency boundaries is not required to retain this fairness.

As a replacement for FPTP, DPR Voting is a way of introducing a form of proportionality while retaining much of the existing electoral system. It requires some changes to the way parliament operates.

Under DPR Voting, MPs previously elected under FPTP would have a chance to be re-elected in their existing constituency.

Retention of much of the existing electoral system would ease the process of transition. The cost of introducing the new system would be relatively low. It would be similarly straightforward to reverse the change.

For more information see DPRVoting.org