Wahlsystem der verbundenen Mehrheitsregel (Kappungssystem) versus modifiziertes echtes Zwei-Stimmen-Wahlrecht (asymmetrisches Grabenwahlrecht): Welches System ist verfassungskonform? – Zugleich eine Replik auf Joachim Behnke in Heft 3/2022 der ZParl

Abstract

With the aim of limiting the size of the Bundestag to 598 members, the government plans to reform the federal electoral law based on an electoral system that links direct mandates fully to the proportional majority rule (capping system) . There are various constitutional objections to this election model . Above all, it is questionable not to award direct mandates in the constituencies against the will of the majority of voters, but to make this allocation dependent on a coverage by the main (list) vote . A majority rule dependent on proportional- ity is alien to the principle of democracy . In contrast, a real two-vote suffrage (segmented electoral system) is constitutionally unproblematic . According to this system, some of the deputies are elected by majority vote in the constituencies and some of the deputies by nationwide proportional representation according to state lists . There is no offsetting of con- stituency and list votes . Concerns that two-vote suffrage puts smaller parties at a disadvan- tage can be countered by an asymmetric electoral system that shifts the balance and weight- ing toward proportional representation .