electoral formula

The electoral formula is the rule which governs the translation of votes into seats .  The electoral formula for the current electoral system in British Columbia is a simple one: the candidate who wins more votes than any other in each electoral district is elected.

There are many electoral formulas, but they can be grouped into a number of families: plurality systems where seats are won by the candidate with the most votes even if the candidate does not get a majority of votes; majority systems where candidates must get a majority of votes to be elected (see alternative vote ; and second ballot ); proportional systems (see proportional representation ) where the parties fielding candidates are represented in proportion to the votes won by each party; and mixed systems which combine two of these systems.