While the present German electoral system before the amendments was already mainly a proportional system – as to its results at least -, with a plurality element, the system as revised has to be understood as analogous to a proportional system with preference vote. In a first stage, the second vote decides on the allocation of seats to parties, while, in a second stage, the seats of these parties are allocated as a priority to the candidates who obtained the best percentages in the constituencies - and then in the order of the lists. In other terms, the new system concentrates on the proportionality of the representation at national level as the distribution of seats among political parties derives first and only from national results (second votes). The voters of all constituencies take part in the proportional allocation of seats to the parties.