The theory of the quota in proportional representation—II

In discussing the various methods of proportional representation noticed in this paper, with the exception of the method of the uniform quota, I have considered the result that may be expected to occur in a single district.But in estimating the probability that an election throughout the country will give proportional or disproportional representation, it must be remembered that under-or overrepresentation in some districts is likely to be balanced by over or under-representation in others, unless the system used has been deliberately constructed (as was the D'Hondt) with the object of favouring one party (the larger party in that case); and consequently that the result of an election in many districts is more likely to be in proportion to the strengths of the parties than an election in one district.