Electoral System Design Database

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About this database

The choice of electoral system is one of the most important institutional decisions in any democracy. Electoral systems define the rules of the political game; they help determine who is elected, how a campaign is fought, the role of political parties, and most importantly, who governs. Furthermore, the choice of an electoral system can help to "engineer" specific outcomes, such as to encourage cooperation and accommodation in a divided society. Historically, however, it has been rare that electoral systems are deliberately chosen or carefully designed for the particular historical and social conditions of a country. In some cases, the choice has reflected the impact of colonialism; in others, the influence of neighbouring systems.

The Electoral System Design Database provides comparative data on electoral systems used in 217 countries and territories across the globe. Compared to other similar datasets, this expansive international coverage makes this database the most comprehensive source of information in the elections field. Interactive tools, including maps and graphs, allow users to easily compare regions and sub-regions, filter necessary data and export raw data for further analyses. Country pages provide in depth country level data in a historical format.

Background information
Methodology
FAQ

Methodology

The initial data on electoral systems was gathered for the Electoral System Design: The New International IDEA Handbook published in 2005 by International IDEA. A group of researchers conducted in-house research to review the electoral legislation of countries around the world. The national legal documents were compiled from different sources, including the official web portals of governments, regional organizations working in the area of democracy and electoral processes, and research institutes specializing in the area of elections and politics in general. In exceptional cases, when legal documents on elections-related issues were not available for certain countries, the researchers contacted the national electoral management body (EMB) of those countries in order to obtain the necessary data. These data were then analysed and informed decisions were made on the electoral system design of each country as well as other related information provided in the handbook.

The data gathered for Electoral System Design: The New International IDEA Handbook were later transferred to International IDEA’s Electoral System Design Database. Since the transfer of the data, the database has been continuously updated. During 2016-2017, historical data covering the elections conducted in each country since 1991 were also added to the database. Beginning from 2018, the data for every country in the database is updated following the cycle of parliamentary (lower house) elections.

We invite researchers and practitioners working in the area of elections to contribute to the update of Electoral System Design Database. If users note that the database has missing or incorrect data, or if they find missing sources or require more explanation, they can use the online form in the “Submit feedback” section. We will review the submission as soon as possible and update the database if the data suggested is accurate.

Frequently asked questions

Who created the database?

The database was created by International IDEA using desk research conducted by in house researchers, global survey of EMBs, and also by contracting regional/local consultants. The community is encouraged to use the database and to help us improve existing entries by suggesting revisions to keep the database up-to-date.

Where does the data come from?

Data are mainly obtained from countries' electoral legislation. In some cases, when electoral laws are not available, other sources are also used, such as direct responses provided by EMB officials, election results and other materials posted in the EMB website, reports produced by election observation mission reports, as well as other reputable materials available online.

What should I do if I find missing or incorrect data?

If you note that the database has missing or incorrect data, or if you find missing sources or have a need for more explanation, you can use the online form in the “Submit feedback” section. We will review the submission as soon as possible and update the database if the information submitted is accurate.

Can I get a complete export of all the data?

In order to export all the data in the ESD database you should follow the following steps:

  • Click on the “Advanced Search” hyperlink provided below the “Search the database” section.
  • You will be directed to a specific advanced search interface where you can select all the questions and countries to produce online table presenting all the data.
  • Data from this table can be exported into excel file by clicking on the “Export” button available at the top of the table. In this search interface you can also limit your search to specific sections and/or questions of the database as well as to specific regions and/or countries.
Is there a codebook explaining the variables included in the database?

The Codebook for the ESD Database can be found at the bottom of this page. A permanent link to the Codebook is here

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