What is the D'Hondt method used for?

• A. Allocating seats proportionally by dividing party vote totals by successive integers and assigning seats to highest quotients.
• B. A winner-take-all method in each district.
• C. A method using ranked ballots with transfers until a quota is reached.
• D. A threshold-based system for seat allocation.

Answer: (C)

D'Hondt is a proportional representation method that uses highest averages to allocate seats. The process takes each party’s total votes and creates a series of quotients by dividing those totals by 1, 2, 3, and so on. Seats are awarded one by one to the party with the current highest quotient, and the quotients are updated after each seat is assigned until all seats are filled. This approach tends to produce a distribution of seats that mirrors the overall vote share, while still allowing larger parties to win more seats without completely dominating.

The description that mentions ranked ballots with transfers until a quota is reached would describe a system like STV, which uses preferences and transfers rather than a pure highest-averages method. A winner-take-all district approach assigns a single winner per district, which is not proportional. A threshold-based system hinges on a minimum vote share to gain representation, which is a feature some systems use but not the defining mechanism of D’Hondt.