Party Systems & Electoral Participation

Single-member districts

Proportional representation

First-past-the-post

Presidential election system in Nigeria

Closed-list proportional representation electoral system.

Proportional representation electoral systems.

Majoritarian/plurality electoral systems (First-past-the-post).

Mixed electoral systems combining proportional and majoritarian elements.

It pressures smaller parties into prioritizing regional over national issues.

It forces smaller parties to adopt broad platforms similar to larger parties.

It compels smaller parties to form pre-election coalitions with unrelated parties.

It encourages smaller parties to focus on niche issues to secure their voter base.

They encourage rapid policy changes by allowing frequent government turnovers.

They diminish the role of political parties by encouraging individual candidate campaigns.

They foster a two-party system even in fragmented societies with diverse interests.

They can lead to stronger ethnic-based parties and reduce cross-ethnic political coalitions.

In countries with no term limits, executives often consolidate power over time, potentially undermining institutional checks and leading either toward authoritarianism or instability through succession crises.

Flexible term limit adjustments during presidency terms usually correlate directly with immediate boosts in public approval ratings due to perceived adaptability.

Countries enforcing strict term limits may see frequent shifts in policies but maintain stronger checks against authoritarian tendencies through regular leadership changes.

Strict enforcement of presidential term limits ensures long-term regime stability by preventing any form individual executive dominance from developing.

They can form coalitions after elections instead of before them.

They only need one member to win a seat in parliament or congress.

They don't need as many resources to campaign across entire regions.

They have better chances at winning seats with their overall vote share.

Introduction of more inclusive voting processes

Reduction in the number of political parties

Elimination of term limits for incumbents

Decrease in voter participation rates

Increased spending on social programs without budgetary constraints.

Mandatory participation in military alliances for collective security.

Adoption of policies promoting closed borders to control immigration flows.

The implementation of austerity measures during economic bailouts.

Implement automatic voter registration alongside convenient voting mechanisms like mail-in ballots and extended polling hours

Create a holiday on election day so people are off work

Require civic education courses emphasizing duties and rights associated with voting

Implement mandatory voting laws with severe penalties for non-participation

Instating mandatory voting for citizens to ensure higher turnout in elections.

Switch to open list proportional representation, allowing voters to choose individual candidates within a party.

Adjusting district boundaries to concentrate opposition voters into a few districts.

Allowing the electorate to vote on legislation directly via referenda or plebiscites.