Final answer:
A single-member district system allocates one legislator to each geographic district, potentially facilitating better representation of certain groups, but can be disadvantageous for smaller political parties and may result in winners without an absolute majority.
Step-by-step explanation:
A single-member district electoral system is where the legislature is made up of several geographic districts, each represented by one legislator. The U.S. House of Representatives is an example of this, where seats are allotted across states based on population. Each state has the autonomy to define its district boundaries.
In terms of representation, single-member districts can provide better representation for racial and ethnic minorities where a community can elect a representative from within. However, it might not be as effective in ensuring the election of women as multimember districts can be. Scholars also argue that in multimember districts, it can be challenging for constituents to monitor their representatives, leading to potential misalignment with the constituency's preferences.
Under plurality or 'first-past-the-post' voting, often used in single-member districts, voters vote for their preferred candidate and the one with the most votes wins, irrespective of the total vote percentage they secure. This system can be disadvantageous to smaller parties and may lead to winners without absolute majority support.