Electoral system design should engineer a system that encompasses the following characteristics
(these principles are elaborated in Design Principles):
1. Ensuring a representative parliament, see Ensuring a Representative Parliament
2. Making elections accessible and meaningful to the average voter, see Making Elections Accessible and Meaningful
3. Providing incentives for conciliation between previously hostile parties, see Providing Incentives for Conciliation
4. Foster the perceived legitimacy of the legislature and government
5. Help facilitate stable and efficient government, see Facilitating Stable and Efficient Government
6. Give rise to a system that holds the government and its representatives accountable to the
highest degree possible, see Holding the Government and Representatives Accountable
7. Encourages 'cross-cutting' political parties, see Encouraging Cross-Cutting Political Parties
8. Helps promote a parliamentary opposition, see Promoting a Parliamentary Opposition
9. Is realistic concerning a country's financial and administrative capacity, see Cost Considerations
In Practical Advice for Electoral System Designers we elaborate on the following points that apply to electoral system design:
1. Keep it simple, but
2. Don't be afraid to innovate
3. Pay attention to contextual and temporal factors
4. Do not underestimate the intelligence of the electorate
5. Err on the side of inclusion
6. Acknowledge that the process by which an electoral system is chosen can be as important as
the final result
7. Try to build legitimacy and acceptance for the system among all key actors
8. Try to maximize voter influence, but
9. Balance that against the need to encourage coherent political parties
10. Note that long-term stability and short-term advantage are not always mutually compatible
11. Don't think of the electoral system as a panacea for all ills, but
12. Conversely, don't underestimate its influence
13. Be mindful of the electorate's willingness to embrace change
14. Avoid being a slave to past systems
15. Assess the likely impact of any new system on societal conflict, and finally
16. Try to imagine unusual or unlikely contingencies.
