How are seats allocated in Parliament in South Africa? D'Hondt method

The National Assembly seat allocation out of 400 is made up of 200 compensatory seats and 200 regional seats.

Compensatory Seats (National Ballot – 200 seats):

ANC: 73
DA: 42
MK: 31
EFF: 17
IFP: 8
PA: 5
VF Plus: 4
ActionSA: 4
ACDP: 3
UDM: 2
ATM: 2
Al Jama: 2
BOSA: 2
NCC: 1
RISE: 1
GOOD: 1
PAC: 1
UAT: 1

Regional Seats (Regional Ballot – 200 seats):

ANC: 86
DA 45
MK: 27
EFF: 22
IFP: 9
PA: 4
ActionSA: 2
VF Plus: 2
NCC: 1
RISE: 1
UDM: 1

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is an international standards organization that prepares and publishes standards for electrical, electronic, and related technologies. The allocation of seats within the IEC, particularly for participation in technical committees and working groups, follows a structured process to ensure balanced and fair representation. Here is a general overview of how seats and participation are allocated in the IEC:

1. Membership and Participation

National Committees: The IEC is made up of National Committees (NCs) from different countries. Each NC represents the interests of its country in IEC activities.
Full and Associate Members: Countries can join the IEC as full members or associate members. Full members have voting rights and can participate in all IEC activities, while associate members have limited participation rights.

2. Technical Committees and Subcommittees

Formation of Committees: Technical committees (TCs) and subcommittees (SCs) are formed to address specific areas of standardization. Each committee is responsible for preparing international standards within its scope.
Participation: National Committees can choose to participate in the work of any technical committee or subcommittee. Participation can be as a "P-member" (Participating member) or "O-member" (Observer member). P-members have the right to vote on committee decisions, while O-members do not.

3. Chairperson and Secretary

Nomination and Appointment: The chairperson and secretary of each technical committee or subcommittee are nominated by the National Committees and appointed by the IEC. The chairperson leads the committee, while the secretary manages administrative tasks.
Terms: These positions typically have fixed terms, after which reappointment or new appointments occur.

4. Working Groups and Project Teams

Establishment: Within TCs and SCs, working groups (WGs) and project teams (PTs) are established to handle specific tasks or develop particular standards.
Membership: Experts from National Committees or other approved organizations can join WGs and PTs. The convenor (leader) of a WG or PT is usually appointed based on expertise and nominated by the committee members.
Expert Contributions: Experts contribute to the drafting and review of standards. The selection of experts aims to balance representation from different countries and sectors.

5. Voting and Decision-Making

Voting Rights: Only P-members have voting rights in technical committees and subcommittees. Votes are cast on documents such as new work item proposals, drafts of standards, and final drafts of international standards.
Consensus Building: The IEC strives for consensus in decision-making. This means that standards are developed with broad agreement among participating members, ensuring that the standards are widely accepted and applicable.

6. Balanced Representation

Stakeholder Involvement: The IEC encourages the involvement of various stakeholders, including industry, government, academia, and consumer groups, to ensure that standards are comprehensive and balanced.
Geographical Representation: Efforts are made to achieve geographical balance in committee membership and leadership positions, reflecting the global nature of the IEC.

7. Resource Allocation

Financial Support: National Committees support their delegates' participation in IEC activities. The IEC also allocates resources to support the functioning of committees and the development of standards.
Logistical Support: The IEC Central Office provides logistical support for meetings, documentation, and communication among committee members.

By following these structured procedures, the IEC ensures that its standards development process is inclusive, transparent, and balanced, promoting international cooperation and harmonization in the field of electrotechnology.

What is the formula IEC uses to calculate election seats for the national assembly?

The allocation of seats for the national assembly in various countries can involve different formulas, particularly when proportional representation is used. One common method is the D'Hondt method, which is frequently employed in parliamentary elections to allocate seats proportionally based on the number of votes each party receives. The IEC (Independent Electoral Commission) in South Africa, for example, uses the D'Hondt method for this purpose.

The D'Hondt method is a highest averages method for allocating seats in party-list proportional representation systems. It aims to ensure a fair distribution of seats according to the proportion of votes each party receives.

Here’s a step-by-step explanation of how the D'Hondt method works:

Step-by-Step Process

Collect Votes: Each party’s total number of votes is tallied.
Create a Table of Divisors: For each party, create a series of quotients by dividing the number of votes it received by a series of divisors: 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., up to the number of seats available.

Calculate Quotients: Calculate the quotients for each party using the formula:

Quotient = \frac{Votes}{Divisor}

Where the divisor starts at 1 and increases by 1 for each subsequent seat calculation.
Allocate Seats: Allocate seats to the highest quotients across all parties. Repeat the allocation until all seats are distributed. After each seat allocation, mark the quotient used and continue to the next highest quotient.

Example

Let's consider a simplified example with three parties and seven seats to allocate:

Votes Received:

Party A: 100,000 votes
Party B: 60,000 votes
Party C: 40,000 votes

Quotient Table:

Seat	Party A (100,000)	Party B (60,000)	Party C (40,000)
1	100,000	60,000	40,000
2	50,000	30,000	20,000
3	33,333	20,000	13,333
4	25,000	15,000	10,000
5	20,000	12,000	8,000
6	16,667	10,000	6,667
7	14,286	8,571	5,714

Allocation of Seats:

1st Seat: Highest quotient = 100,000 (Party A)
2nd Seat: Next highest quotient = 60,000 (Party B)
3rd Seat: Next highest quotient = 50,000 (Party A)
4th Seat: Next highest quotient = 40,000 (Party C)
5th Seat: Next highest quotient = 33,333 (Party A)
6th Seat: Next highest quotient = 30,000 (Party B)
7th Seat: Next highest quotient = 25,000 (Party A)

Final Seat Allocation:

Party A: 4 seats
Party B: 2 seats
Party C: 1 seat

Detailed Explanation

First Seat:

Quotients: Party A (100,000), Party B (60,000), Party C (40,000)
Highest Quotient: Party A (100,000) → Party A gets the 1st seat.

Second Seat:

Quotients: Party A (50,000), Party B (60,000), Party C (40,000)
Highest Quotient: Party B (60,000) → Party B gets the 2nd seat.

Third Seat:

Quotients: Party A (50,000), Party B (30,000), Party C (40,000)
Highest Quotient: Party A (50,000) → Party A gets the 3rd seat.

Fourth Seat:

Quotients: Party A (33,333), Party B (30,000), Party C (40,000)
Highest Quotient: Party C (40,000) → Party C gets the 4th seat.

Fifth Seat:

Quotients: Party A (33,333), Party B (30,000), Party C (20,000)
Highest Quotient: Party A (33,333) → Party A gets the 5th seat.

Sixth Seat:

Quotients: Party A (25,000), Party B (30,000), Party C (20,000)
Highest Quotient: Party B (30,000) → Party B gets the 6th seat.

Seventh Seat:

Quotients: Party A (25,000), Party B (15,000), Party C (20,000)
Highest Quotient: Party A (25,000) → Party A gets the 7th seat.

This method ensures that seats are distributed proportionally based on the number of votes received, favoring larger parties slightly but providing a fairly proportional outcome. The D'Hondt method is widely used in many countries for parliamentary elections.

Here’s a simplified overview of how the D'Hondt method works to calculate election seats:
D'Hondt Method

Total Votes: Start with the total number of votes each party received.
Divisors: Use a series of divisors to create a table of quotients. The divisors are 1, 2, 3, etc.
Quotients: Calculate the quotients for each party by dividing the number of votes each party received by each of the divisors.
Seats Allocation: Allocate seats one by one to the highest quotients. After each allocation, mark the quotient used and move to the next highest quotient. This continues until all seats are allocated.

Example

Let’s consider a simplified example with three parties and seven seats to allocate:

Votes Received:

Party A: 100,000 votes
Party B: 60,000 votes
Party C: 40,000 votes

Divisor Table:

Divisor	Party A (100,000)	Party B (60,000)	Party C (40,000)
1	100,000	60,000	40,000
2	50,000	30,000	20,000
3	33,333	20,000	13,333
4	25,000	15,000	10,000

Allocation of Seats:

1st Seat: Highest quotient = 100,000 (Party A)
2nd Seat: Next highest quotient = 60,000 (Party B)
3rd Seat: Next highest quotient = 50,000 (Party A)
4th Seat: Next highest quotient = 40,000 (Party C)
5th Seat: Next highest quotient = 33,333 (Party A)
6th Seat: Next highest quotient = 30,000 (Party B)
7th Seat: Next highest quotient = 25,000 (Party A)

Final Seat Allocation:

Party A: 4 seats
Party B: 2 seats
Party C: 1 seat

This method ensures that seats are distributed proportionally based on the number of votes received by each party. The D'Hondt method is one of several proportional representation methods used around the world, each with its own specific rules and nuances.

If you are looking for information on a specific country's national assembly seat allocation, you would need to refer to the electoral laws and procedures established by that country's electoral commission or relevant governing body. Different countries may use different formulas or variations of proportional representation methods.