TFL Vsebine / Revija Javna uprava

Volilna geometrija je poznavanje oblik volilnih enot, števila prebivalcev ali volilcev v njih (moči volilnih enot) in njihovih meja ter vseh ostalih lastnosti. V poštev pride pri procesu oblikovanja volilnih enot v volilnih sistemih, ki volilne enote predvidevajo. V ospredju vsakršnega procesa oblikovanja volilnih enot je določen namen, cilj, ki se ga doseže s pomočjo volilne geometrije. Volilna geometrija je torej sredstvo za dosego določenega cilja, ki je izražen v samih lastnostih volilnih enot. Če je takšen cilj demokratičen, legitimen, govorimo o dopustni (legitimni) volilni geometriji. Za dopustno volilno geometrijo gre, če z njo zasledujemo temeljna volilna načela in temeljna načela demokracije, predvsem pa načelo enakosti volilne pravice. Če je cilj oblikovanja volilnih enot in uporabe volilne geometrije nedemokratičen, nelegitimen, govorimo o nedopustni volilni geometriji. Z njo se namenoma koristi določeni skupini ljudi v škodo neki drugi skupini ljudi.

Electoral geometry is a science about shapes of constituencies, number of constituents or electors (powers of constituencies), boundaries and all other attributes of constituencies. Electoral geometry serves like an instrument to achieve a certain purpose in the process of electoral redistricting. A certain purpose or intent is always present in that process. It is expressed in the concrete shapes of constituencies. If that purpose or intent is democratic, legitimate, we are talking about admissible (legitimate) electoral geometry. Admissible electoral geometry means that with electoral geometry fundamental electoral principles, particularly principle of equality of electoral right, are followed. If the purpose or intent of electoral geometry is undemocratic, illegitimate, we are talking about inadmissible (illegitimate) electoral geometry. The purpose of inadmissible electoral geometry is to intentionally give benefit to a certain group of people in harm of other groups of people.