Closed List Proportional Representation

The closed list electoral system is a type of proportional representation. Closed list is used for elections to the Senedd Cymru/ Welsh Parliament.

Closed list uses large, multi-member constituencies: for example, each Senedd constituency contains six seats. Political parties do not stand individual candidates for each constituency, but instead submit lists containing as many candidates as they like. Independent candidates can also stand in their own ‘list’ of one. Voters have one vote, and can vote for a single list.

Within each party’s list the candidates are ranked, and this ranking is the order in which they will be elected. For example, if a party wins half of the votes in a six-member constituency, it will be entitled to three seats: the top three candidates in its list will be elected.

This system is called ‘closed’ because voters cannot choose between the candidates within a party list.

Seat allocation

The closed list system is designed so that the number of votes a party has received closely matches the number of seats it wins.

Seats are allocated to parties using a common method called the ‘D’Hondt formula’. Each seat is allocated in turn, with the number of votes needed to win a seat (the ‘quota’) calculated using the following formula:

Vote quota = Total number of votes won by the party / (Total number of seats already won by the party + 1).

In order to be allocated a seat, a party must have the highest vote number after the above formula has been applied.