What is the Sainte-Laguë method?

What is the Sainte-Laguë method?

• A. A method using divisors 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...
• B. A method using divisors 1, 3, 5, 7, ...
• C. A simple plurality method
• D. A two-round majority system

Answer: (B)

Sainte-Laguë is a proportional representation method that allocates seats using a highest-averages approach with odd divisors. For each seat, you divide each party’s vote total by the next number in the sequence 1, 3, 5, 7, ... and give the seat to whoever has the highest quotient. This setup tends to be more favorable to smaller parties than methods that use divisors 1, 2, 3, 4, ..., and it differs from simple plurality (winner-takes-all) and from a two-round majority system. Therefore, the correct description here is the one that uses divisors 1, 3, 5, 7, ...

Sainte-Laguë is a proportional representation method that allocates seats using a highest-averages approach with odd divisors. For each seat, you divide each party’s vote total by the next number in the sequence 1, 3, 5, 7, ... and give the seat to whoever has the highest quotient. This setup tends to be more favorable to smaller parties than methods that use divisors 1, 2, 3, 4, ..., and it differs from simple plurality (winner-takes-all) and from a two-round majority system. Therefore, the correct description here is the one that uses divisors 1, 3, 5, 7, ...