Sophisticated system to elect leaders

Our candidates are decided by proportional representation, utilising a simple but ingenious mathematical formula, writes Conor Keane

THE Irish electorate will utilise one of the most sophisticated electoral systems in the world when choosing the TDs who will represent the country in the 31st Dáil.

While the vast majority of voters have only a rudimentary knowledge of the intricacies of PR — Proportional Representation, it has been used in varying grades of cunning and refinement by the Irish electorate to achieve the result they required.