Representation of Minorities
How different electoral systems affect the representation of ethnic, racial, and religious minorities in legislatures.
Electoral Rules and Minority Voice
Whether minorities are represented in legislatures depends heavily on electoral system design. Under FPTP, geographically concentrated minorities can win seats in districts where they form a majority, but dispersed minorities are systematically underrepresented. African Americans, concentrated in the US South and urban areas, can win seats through majority-minority districts, but Asian Americans and Latinos, often more dispersed, face greater barriers.
Proportional representation generally produces better minority representation because parties have incentives to include minority candidates on their lists to attract minority voters. A party list without visible diversity signals exclusion. However, PR alone does not guarantee minority representation if parties choose not to place minority candidates in winnable positions, or if minority voters are a small enough share that their preferences are ignored.