[EM] Iraq election system

[James Gilmour]

James Green-Armytage  Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2005 2:51 AM
> It looks like this is a closed list system (the party 
> leadership determines the ordering of the list). 

Yes, it is a closed-list party-list PR election, with the whole country as one national constituency (= one electoral
district).  One interesting point is that they are using the Hare quota to allocate seats:
   CPA Order 96  Section 3.  System of Representation
4) The formula for the allocation of seats in the National Assembly will be based on
a first calculation employing a simple quota (Hare quota) and subsequent
calculations employing the largest remainders. The Threshold shall be the natural
threshold, which is calculated by dividing the total number of valid votes by 275.
The procedure for use of this formula shall be set forth in such regulations
promulgated pursuant to Section 6.

This use of the Hare quota is unusual for party-list PR elections.  It means that any party that gains 1/275th of the
valid votes will get one seat.  The last seats will be allocated by the "largest remainder" formula.  (Independents
stand as party lists of one candidate.)

Also interesting feature is the provision for "gender balance":
   CPA Order 96  Section 4.  Electoral Candidates
3) No fewer than one out of the first three candidates on the list must be woman; no
fewer than two out of the first six candidates on the list must be woman; and so
forth until the end of the list.

James Gilmour