No subject is more central to the study of politics than elections. All across the globe, elections are a focal point for citizens, the media, and politicians long before--and sometimes long after--they occur. Electoral systems, the rules about how voters' preferences are translated into election results, profoundly shape the results not only of individual elections but also of many other important political outcomes, including party systems, candidate selection, and policy choices. Electoral systems have been a hot topic in established democracies from the UK and Italy to New Zealand and Japan. Even in the United States, events like the 2016 presidential election and court decisions such as Citizens United have sparked advocates to promote change in the Electoral College, redistricting, and campaign-finance rules. Elections and electoral systems have also intensified as a field of academic study, with groundbreaking work over the past decade sharpening our understanding of how electoral systems fundamentally shape the connections among citizens, government, and policy. This volume provides an in-depth exploration of the origins and effects of electoral systems.

1. Terminology and Basic Rules of Electoral SystemsErik S. Herron, Robert J. Pekkanen, and Matthew S. ShugartPart I. Foundations of Electoral Systems2. Dimensions of Variation in Electoral SystemsMichael Gallagher and Paul Mitchell3. Electoral System Effects on Party SystemsMatthew S. Shugart and Rein Taagepera4. Party System Effects on Electoral SystemsJosep M. Colomer5. Electoral System Design in New DemocraciesJohn M. Carey6. Electoral System ChangeAlan RenwickPart II. Issues and Representation7. Social Diversity, Electoral Systems, and the Party SystemRobert Moser, Ethan Scheiner, and Heather Stoll8. Electoral Systems and Ethnic Minority RepresentationDavid Lublin and Shaun Bowler9. Electoral Systems and Women's RepresentationMona Lena Krook10. Electoral Systems and Voter TurnoutDaniel M. Smith11. Electoral Systems and Citizen-Elite Ideological CongruenceMatthew Golder and Benjamin Ferland12. Electoral Systems and Issue PolarizationJames F. Adams and Nathan J. RexfordPart III. Electoral Systems and the Wider Political System13. Portfolio-maximizing Strategic Voting in Parliamentary ElectionsGary W. Cox14. Presidential and Legislative ElectionsMark P. Jones15. Electoral Systems and Legislative OrganizationShane Martin16. Electoral Systems and Roles in the Legislative ArenaAudrey Andr? and Sam Depauw17. Electoral Systems and Constituency ServiceBrian F. Crisp and William M. Simoneau18. Direct Democracy and ReferendumsMatt Qvortrup19. Electoral Systems in Authoritarian StatesJennifer Gandhi and Abigail L. HellerPart IV. Electoral Systems and Research Design20. Election Data and Levels of AnalysisKen Kollman21. Experimental Research Design in the Study of Electoral SystemsJoshua Tucker and Dominik Duell22. Reconciling Approaches in the Study of Mixed-Member Electoral SystemsErik S. Herron, Kuniaki Nemoto, and Misa NishikawaPart V. Holding Elections23. Election AdministrationThad E. Hall24. Electoral Systems and Electoral IntegrityPippa Norris25. Electoral Systems and RedistrictingLisa Handley26. Electoral Systems and Campaign FinanceJoel W. JohnsonPart VI. Electoral Systems in Context27. Electoral Systems in Context: The NetherlandsKristof Jacobs28. Electoral Systems in Context: IsraelReuven Y. Hazan, Reut Itzkovitch-Malka, and Gideon Rahat29. Electoral Systems in Context: Finland?sa von Schoultz30. Electoral Systems in Context: United KingdomThomas Carl Lundberg31. Electoral Systems in Context: IrelandMichael Marsh32. Electoral Systems in Context: FranceVer?nica Hoyo33. Electoral Systems in Context: IndiaAdam Ziegfeld34. Electoral Systems in Context: United StatesSteven L. Taylor35. Electoral Systems in Context: CanadaLouis Massicotte36. Electoral Systems in Context: AustraliaIan McAllister and Toni Makkai37. Electoral Systems in Context: GermanyThomas ZittelPart VII. Electoral Systems in the Context of Reform38. Electoral Systems in Context: New ZealandJack Vowles39. Electoral Systems in Context: JapanKuniaki Nemoto40. Electoral Systems in Context: ItalyGianluca Passarelli41. Electoral Systems in Context: ColombiaSteven L. Taylor and Matthew S. ShugartPart VIII. Electoral Systems in the Context of New Democracies42. Electoral Systems in Context: UkraineErik S. Herron43. Electoral Systems in Context: IndonesiaNathan Allen44. Electoral Systems in Context: South AfricaKaren E. Ferree