The impact of change of electoral formula on the strategies of rival subjects in the local elections for municipal councils over 20 thousands residents in the Silesian Voivodeship Cover Image

Wpływ zmiany formuły wyborczej na wybór strategii podmiotów rywalizujących w wyborach samorządowych do rad gmin powyżej 20 tys. mieszkańców w województwie śląskim
The impact of change of electoral formula on the strategies of rival subjects in the local elections for municipal councils over 20 thousands residents in the Silesian Voivodeship

Author(s): Jakub Mielewczyk
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Public Administration, Electoral systems
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: local elections; individual electoral committee; electoral strategies; single-member districts

Summary/Abstract: The main aim of this article is to analyze the impact of the change of electoral formula on the strategies of rival subjects in the local elections for municipal councils in Silesian Voivodeship, which is inhabited over 20 thousands residents. The studies show, that the reform has contributed to strengthening the non-party committees on the local political scene. Therefore, it is important to pay attention, whether the new electoral rules have contributed to change so far chosen strategies (eg. transfer from party committee to non-party committee, transfer between non-party committees, transfer from non-party committee to party committee) and growing interest in possibility of start from individual electoral committees. In order to see the possible changes, it was analyzed belonging of the individual councilors to electoral committees and the migration between electoral committees. The scope of the study have been covered by election in 2010 (compared to the elections in 2006) and in 2014 (compared to the elections in 2010). The study showed, that as a result of changing electoral formula, greatly decreased interest in taking part in elections from party committees lists (transfer from non-party committee to party committee, transfer between party committees), while increased interest in starting from no n-party committees lists (transfer from party committee to non-party committee, transfer between non-party committees).

  • Issue Year: 2015
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 55-72
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Polish