Oxford Handbook of Electoral Systems

No subject is more central to the study of politics than elections. All across the globe, elections are a focal point for citizens, the media, and politicians long before—and sometimes long after—they occur. Electoral systems, the rules about how voters' preferences are translated into election results, profoundly shape the results not only of individual elections but also of many other important political outcomes, including party systems, candidate selection, andpolicy choices. Electoral systems have been a hot topic in established democracies from the UK and Italy to New Zealand and Japan. Even in the United States, events like the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections and court decisions such as Citizens United have sparked advocates to promote change inthe Electoral College, redistricting, and campaign-finance rules. Elections and electoral systems have also intensified as a field of academic study, with groundbreaking work over the past decade sharpening our understanding of how electoral systems fundamentally shape the connections among citizens, government, and policy. This volume provides an in-depth exploration of the origins and effects of electoral systems.

The Oxford Handbook of Electoral Systems is a massive store of knowledge and information, with many of its chapters providing valuable and accessible resources, The book approaches the topic of elections and electoral system by employing the more quantitative analysis aspects of the topic, and is written for those who are currently working in the fields or looking to join. The content, while dense with statistical analysis, is well written and is easily read and digested. It is not for the casual reader or one who doesn't want to take a deep dive into the topics, but is an excellent resource for a researcher or upper-level student who is participating in advanced studies of elections and electoral systems.

Erik S. Herron is the Eberly Family Distinguished Professor of Political Science at West Virginia University. Robert J. Pekkanen is Professor at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, Adjunct Professor of Political Science, and Adjunct Professor of Sociology at the University of Washington.Matthew S. Shugart is Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Davis, and Affiliated Professor at the University of Haifa.