"Overhang mandates" simply explained
Overhang mandates is a term from German electoral law. If you want to vote, you should understand how a ballot paper is structured and what consequences your tick can have for the political future. Even if this principle sounds quite complicated for some, it is easy to explain.
Surplus mandates - Basic information on the right to vote
Political connections are not always easy to explain, but voters should know the basics of voting rights.
- The so-called overhang mandates play an important role in the federal elections. Every four years, Germans elect the Bundestag - the people's representative body of the Federal Republic Germany. The Bundestag - the first chamber of parliament - takes over the legislation, controls the work of the government and also elects the Federal Chancellor.
- In order for a politician to be able to represent the interests of the people as a member of parliament, he must receive enough votes. He thus officially receives an order - the mandate.
- Each voter receives two votes, the first vote and the second vote. With the first vote, the voter chooses a candidate from his constituency, i.e. from his city or his surroundings, who he particularly likes. This politician is his party's nominee, in order to win his constituency he must get enough votes. With the first vote, a direct mandate is granted.
- The party is elected with the second vote. The more votes a party receives, the more MPs it can send to the Bundestag. In advance, extensive state lists are drawn up by the parties, on which all eligible politicians are located. The higher a politician is on this list, the greater the chances of moving into the Bundestag. In the context of "en bloc voting", the tick is made for one party, but at the same time the voter votes on several candidates standing for election.
- This means that some of the members of parliament are elected via a direct mandate, while the other part moves into the Bundestag with the second vote. Politicians therefore have two options for moving into the Bundestag. Top politicians are usually high on the state list, so they get into the Bundestag even if they don't win their constituency.
Every vote counts. Things get complicated in the general election. As a voter, you have a...
Explained very easily - allocation of seats in the Bundestag
- All votes cast are counted using the "Sainte-Laguë/Schepers" method Number of votes divided and rounded so that the number of seats corresponds to the total number of seats to match. 598 mandates/seats can be allocated in the Bundestag.
- However, it can now happen that more direct mandates are awarded than the party is entitled to via the second vote. Example: Party A receives 20 votes, so it can send 20 MPs to the Bundestag. At the same time, however, she received 22 direct mandates. She now has two overhang mandates.
- These additionally elected politicians may also move into the Bundestag. Depending on the number of overhang mandates, the number of seats can be increased. in the 17th 22 such overhang mandates have been awarded to the Bundestag. If a Member of Parliament who has entered the Bundestag through such a mandate resigns, his position will not be filled by another Member of Parliament.
This principle is a negative voting weight, since not every vote counts equally. This rule in German electoral law was declared unconstitutional in 2012. Inequality can only be prevented if overhang mandates are ruled out from the outset or a balance is established through compensatory mandates. With the federal elections in 2013, there will be such compensation mandates for the first time. (Status 05/2013)
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