The notion of policy representation is operationalized with the indices of popularity (the average percentage of the population represented on important policy issues) and universality (frequency in representing a majority). To enhance policy representation, an alternative election procedure with embedded referenda on the issues to test the candidate representativeness is proposed. The candidates are then indexed not with respect to the votes received but with respect to their representativeness indices. The method is hypothetically applied to redistribute the Bundestag seats among the party factions with a considerable gain in the Bundestag representativeness. Finally, mixed election procedures combining the elements of traditional voting schemes with the proposed method are discussed.
