Multi-level Election Timing—A Comparative Overview

Abstract

This article compiles information on multi-level electoral politics in nine countries, starting with multi-level election cycles: horizontal concurrence and vertical concurrence. In addition to the cycle of federal and regional elections, this report looks at election rules for federal and regional elections: fixed election date, possibility of vertical concurrence, dissolution of regional assemblies, length of term after dissolution and the electoral systems for state-wide and regional elections. These election rules and the cycle of state-wide and regional elections contribute to either encouraging the symmetry between the state-wide and regional party systems or, on the contrary, facilitating the divergence between state-wide and regional political arenas and electoral cycles.

Keywords:

• Multi-level politics
• electoral cycles
• simultaneity
• election rules

Acknowledgements

This research was undertaken while the author was working for Vives, the Research Centre for Regional Economics of the KU Leuven. The author would also like to thank Klaus Detterbeck, Franz Fallend and the many people from sub-state parliaments who helped gather this information. The usual disclaimer applies.

Notes

A new referendum was organized in May 2009, with only 39.08% of the voters in favour of a change of electoral system.

Government of Wales Act 2006: “The poll at an ordinary general election is to be held on the first Thursday in May in the fourth calendar year following that in which the previous ordinary general election was held” and the Scotland Act 1998: “The poll at subsequent ordinary general elections shall be held on the first Thursday in May in the fourth calendar year following that in which the previous ordinary general election was held”.

Northern Ireland Act 1998: “the date of the poll for the election of each Assembly shall be the first Thursday in May in the fourth calendar year following that in which its predecessor was elected”.