What does "weighted vote" refer to?

The concept of a "weighted vote" typically refers to a voting system where individuals' votes carry different levels of importance or influence, often based on specific criteria relevant to the context in which the voting occurs. Among the provided options, the most relevant answer is related to a procedure used in proportional representation systems.

In proportional representation systems, weighted voting is often employed to ensure that different groups or interests are represented in proportion to their size. For instance, larger parties may receive more votes, or votes from certain geographic areas may hold more significance in the overall outcome. This method helps facilitate a more equitable representation of various constituents within a governing body.

In this context, it’s important to distinguish that the other options do not align with the established definition of "weighted vote." The notion of voting based on education levels, assigning more significance to local votes, or linking voting with the donation of large sums of money does not encapsulate the essence of a weighted voting system as understood in political science and representation. Thus, the reference to proportional representation captures the core idea behind "weighted vote" accurately.