How are seats allocated according to the D’Hondt method?

The D’Hondt method

The D’Hondt method is the system used to allocate seats among the candidates in proportion to the number of votes obtained.

As an example, let’s simulate an allocation of eight seats between four candidates, who we will call A, B, C and D.

• Candidate A:

• Candidate B:

• Candidate C:

• Candidate D:

Blank votes:

Firstly, the results obtained by each candidate are arranged from highest to lowest and the percentage of votes for each one is calculated, also taking blank votes into account.

NUMBER OF VOTES

Percentage

As a rule, to prevent too much fragmentation, the candidates that do not meet the minimum percentage of votes are screened out. However, this minimum threshold does not apply to elections to the European Parliament in Spain.

A table is created with as many columns as the number of positions to be distributed, completing each column with the number of votes for each candidacy divided by 1, 2, 3… until the table is complete. A table is created with as many columns as the number of positions to be distributed, completing each column with the number of votes for each candidacy divided by 1, 2, 3… until the table is complete.

Seats are allocated to the eight highest coefficients, in descending order.

In the event of a tie, the position will be awarded to the candidate with the highest number of total votes. If these also coincide, they will be assigned by a draw, and the rest in an alternative manner.

Seat allocation is as follows:

• 4 seats

• 3 seats

• 1 seat