The Brazilian proportional electoral system and its distortions in the representation of its citizens

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to expose some of the problems verified in the Brazilian reality about the disproportional representation caused by the distortional application of distribution criteria of seats between the states members, provoking effects clearly deformed in the regional representation in Brazil, what evidences the difference of citizen’s vote weight in the several areas of the country. These problems affect the proportional system, creating situations which are not simple to ex- plain to the voters, who see their vote being “over” considered or the opposite, keeping at the same time some social and economic issues, when is not possible to promote deep changes for social development of the country