What is the voting system called when citizens vote for whom they want to represent their specific district?

The voting system where citizens vote for representatives specifically tied to their districts is known as Single-Member Districts. In this system, each electoral district elects one representative to the legislative body, meaning that the interests and needs of that particular district are directly addressed by their chosen representative. This approach allows constituents to have a clear connection with their elected official, fostering accountability and responsiveness since the representative must cater to the specific concerns of their district in order to be re-elected.

In contrast, at-large districts involve representatives being elected to serve an entire area rather than a specific locality. District-wide elections can include multiple representatives serving a larger area, which may dilute the localized representation. Proportional representation is a system where parties gain seats in the legislature in proportion to the number of votes they receive, typically representing broader interests rather than specific districts. Each of these alternatives does not offer the focused representation found in Single-Member Districts, making it the appropriate term for the described voting system.