Israeli Electoral System

The Israeli Electoral System is based on nation-wide proportional representation. This means that voters choose a party and seats are awarded to that party based on the percentage of votes received. A party must receive a minimum of 2 percent of the vote to win a seat. There are few other countries in the world that operate a proportionally representative parliamentary system to the extreme that Israel does.

Criticism of the system

Critics point out that this system disenfranchises voters because they are often not able to vote for an individual candidate to represent them. Moreover, it is argued that the system has led to a fractured government consisting of a dozen political parties or more. They also point to the fact that few governments have last their four year term as a sign that the system fosters gridlock and collapse.

Fast Facts

1. A nation-wide, proportional representation, system
2. Citizens vote for a party, which is then awarded seats based on percentage received
3. Party chooses who will fill the seats
4. One of the only in the world operated to such an extreme
5. Critics argue that the system fractures the government and isolates voters

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