Election threshold

In party list systems, an election threshold is an absolute limit of support (as a fraction of the number of votes cast) below which a party obtains no seats.

Election thresholds are often used to keep minor parties from becoming kingmakers and exercising too much power that way. However, too high thresholds can reduce party competition.

In some party systems with multiple procedures, the threshold might only apply to one procedure. For instance, the electoral threshold in Norway only applies to the distribution of top-up leveling seats, and parties retain their county seats even if they fall short of the threshold.

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