Preferenční hlasy v komunálních volbách – zdroj obměny či stability volených reprezentantů?

Jakub Šedo
Preferential votes in municipal elections - the source of variations or stability of elected representatives?
The article is focused on the municipal elections in the Czech Republic in eight cities. The main goal of the research is the evaluation influence of the free list system of the municipal councils on the re-election of the city councilors. There are identified two potential tendencies: preferential voting could strengthen stability (personal continuity) or change (personal discontinuity). The question is whether former city councilors are via preferential votes more supported than new candidates (voters and preferential voting support stability) or less (voters and voting prefer change). Analysis is focused on the former city councilors of eight cities on the list which got at least one seat in the municipal elections. Than it is pointed out if the reelection or failure of the former councilor was caused by the position on the list, preferential voting, or combination of both factors. Reelection from the lower position on the list via preferential votes or the failure caused only by the position on the list (candidates need to meet the limit 10 % over the mean of the list to advance from their original position on the list) is the sign of the tendency to the stability. Failure due to low number of preferential votes or reelection only thanks to the advantageous position on the list indicates the tendency to the change. Outcomes of the research were not significant the number of cases which supports the stabilization tendency was higher, but only slightly.