THE UNINOMINAL VOTE AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE ROMANIAN ELECTORAL SYSTEM
THE UNINOMINAL VOTE AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE ROMANIAN ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Summary/Abstract: Since 1990, after the first democratic elections in Romania, before each election, there were debates about the technical way in which elections should be conducted. If, as of May 20th 1990 and till the autumn of 2004, parliamentary elections held in Romania were conducted in the form of proportional representation, by voting on political party lists, in electoral districts strictly drawn by type and capital district, after the 2004 election debates around the modification of the voting system were approached with increased interest and very intense discussions at the decision – making levels were initiated. Thus, after lengthy debates in parliament and inside the civil society, and also following the referendum on 25th of November 2007, initiated by the President under the Constitution of Romania (in consultation with the Parliament), it was decided that the Romanian electoral system would be modified from the proportional party lists voting method into the uninominal majority vote in electoral constituencies and uninominal colleges (districts). The decision being thus taken by the voters, the Parliament started to discuss the suggested bills and finally Law no. 35/2008 was passed in March 2008, this law being known as the "law of the single vote". Law no. 35/2008 confirms the modification of the Romanian electoral system and the November 2008 parliamentary elections were held under its prerogatives. The consequences of the electoral changes are still commented upon by the most prominent public life players in Romania.

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