D'Hondt method

English

Alternative forms

• d'Hondt method

Etymology

Named after Belgian mathematician Victor D'Hondt (1841–1901), who described it in 1878 for proportional allocation of parliamentary seats to the parties.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dəˈhɒnt ˈmɛθəd/

• Audio (Southern England)

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Proper noun

the D'Hondt method

1. A highest-averages method for allocating seats, used to achieve proportional representation in elections, and often favoring large parties and coalitions.
   • 1999, Pietro Grilli di Cortona et al., Evaluation and Optimization of Electoral Systems, SIAM, →ISBN, page 103:

     The d'Hondt method is one of the most commonly used methods in Europe. It has been sharply criticized for being the “less proportional method.”

   • 2014, Cameron Ross, editor, Russian Regional Politics under Putin and Medvedev, Routledge, →ISBN, page 64:

     The only exception to the rule was in the Kalmyk Republic where the D'Hondt method was used.

   • 2021, Kazuaki Nagatomi, The Operation of the Japanese Electoral System since 1994, Springer Nature, →ISBN, page 142:

     Secondly, this chapter aims to substantiate the inference that the D'Hondt method also gets the largest parties overrepresented.

Synonyms

• Jefferson method