Editing Proportional representation (section)

== Proportional representation versus "representation by population" ==
The term ''proportional representation'' may be used to mean fair representation by population as applied to states, regions, etc. However, representation being proportional with respect solely to population size is not considered to make an electoral system "proportional" the way the term is usually used. 

For example, the [[United States House of Representatives|US House of Representatives]] has 435 members, who each represent a roughly equal number of people; each state is allocated a number of members in accordance with its population size (aside from a minimum single seat that even the smallest state receives), thus producing equal representation by population. But members of the House are elected in single-member districts generally through [[First-past-the-post voting|first-past-the-post elections]]: a single-winner contest does not produce proportional representation as it has only one winner. 

Conversely, the representation achieved under PR electoral systems is typically proportional to a district's population size (seats per set amount of population), votes cast (votes per winner), and party vote share (in party-based systems such as [[Party-list proportional representation|party-list PR]]). Party-proportionality is also evident in many PR systems where party labels are used.{{Original research inline|date=May 2025}} 

Both PR and "rep. by pop." are preserved in [[European Parliament]] elections. The EU gives each member state a number of seats roughly based on its population size (see [[degressive proportionality]]) and in each member state, the election must also be held using a PR system (with proportional results based on vote share). The members are elected through list PR (a system that allows voters to mark preferences for party lists) or STV. As well, country-wide electoral thresholds are restricted to five percent or lower, and to two to five percent in any district (or at-large district) where 35 or more are elected through list PR.<ref>{{cite web |title=The European parliament: Electoral procedures |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/21/the-european-parliament-electoral-procedures |publisher=European Parliament |access-date=December 13, 2024}}</ref>{{Original research inline|date=May 2025}}