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"The thresholds, which are generally expressed as a percentage of registered electors or of voters, are a matter for the discretion of the legislature. However, the role played by the thresholds differs depending on how high they have been set and on the party system existing in each country. The choice of a low threshold eliminates only very small parties, which makes it more difficult to build stable majorities in assemblies. Where there is strong fragmentation of the party system, a high threshold results in the exclusion from representation of a substantial proportion of votes. "
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CoE (Venice Commission): Report on Electoral Systems - Overview of available solutions and selection criteria, para. 76

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Report on Electoral Systems - Overview of available solutions and selection criteria

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