The d’Hondt system allocates additional seats to political parties or independent candidates according to the number of regional votes cast for that party or independent candidate divided by the number of seats (constituency and regional) already gained in that region, plus one. 

The party with the highest total after this calculation gains one additional member. 

The divisor for that party, or individual, is then increased by one (because of the victory in the first round) and the calculation is repeated. 

Image source, Scottish Parliament/Wikipedia

Again, the party, or individual, with the highest total wins a seat. This process is repeated until all seven regional/list seats are allocated. 

Victor d'Hondt (20 November 1841 – 30 May 1901) was a Belgian mathematician who devised the now legendary d'Hondt system. 

As promised here's everything you wanted to know about  the Additional Member System (AMS) but were afraid to ask : 

• There are 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) and there are two ways an MSP can be elected. 
• Each elector (voter) has two votes. 
• Scotland is divided into 73 constituencies and each constituency elects one MSP. 
• These are known as constituency MSPs and are elected by 'first past the post' in exactly the same way as MPs are elected to Westminster. This is the elector's constituency vote. 
• The regional vote is used to elect 56 additional members. Scotland is divided into 8 parliamentary Regions and each region elects 7 regional MSPs. 

Image source, bbc

• In the second vote the voter votes for a party rather than a candidate. 
• The parties are then allocated a number of additional members to make the overall result more proportional. 
• The regional MSPs are selected from lists compiled by the parties. 
• These MSPs are also sometimes referred to as List MSPs.
• Features of the Additional Member System Voters get two votes - to elect 1 constituency MSP and 7 regional/ list MSPs Each person living in Scotland has a total of 8 MSPs to represent them.

John Beattie will shortly interview Daniel Kenealy who is the Deputy Director at the University of Edinburgh's Academy of Government.

The system used for Scottish Parliament general elections is a mixed member system comprising a first-past-the-post component, under which seats are allocated in single member constituencies, and a proportional representation (PR) component based on regional party lists. 

These two elements are then linked through a formula known as the d’Hondt method or system. 

Image source, Scottish Parliament/Thinkstock

This electoral system is known as the Additional Member System (AMS). 

Part 1 of the Scotland Act 1998 sets out the processs by which Members are elected to the Scottish Parliament.   

Tell us more you cry....... very well we will!

John Beattie
Former Scotland international on BBC Radio Scotland

John Beattie has been talking to canvassers on the election trail.

Scottish Conservative candidate Professor Adam Tomkins says his party have been carrying out surveys on what local issues affect people, with the most common answer being "potholes".

Mr Tomkins, who has been canvassing in Anniesland, says his team have also been asking about income tax and what party voters believe are most likely to hold the SNP to account.  

He says a lot of the electorate are considering voting Scottish Conservatives for the first time.

John Beattie
Former Scotland international on BBC Radio Scotland

John joins the real foot soldiers of this election campaign ..... the  doorstep canvassers from the four largest parties.

Also, there will be time to brush up on how the Scottish Parliament electoral system if you "d'Hondt" know by now, this is your chance.

Image source, Leicester City

There will also be time to reflect on Leicster's triumph against all the odds.... inspiration for the smaller parties in this election?

BBC Radio Scotland

With just 48 hours to go until the Holyrood election Scotland's political parties have been giving a final push for votes on the campaign trail.

Earlier Good Morning Scotland broadcast live from Falkirk and former strategic communications director for the SNP, Kevin Pringle, denied his party have led a presidential style campaign.

Mr Pringle said the campaign has been understandable from Ms Sturgeon's point of view because she is seeking a mandate in her own right to be first minister after taking over from Alex Salmond.

"She is putting forward a strong policy agenda", he said.

BBC Radio Scotland
Good Morning Scotland

Also at the Kelpies visitor centre with Haley Millar this morning was former Chairman of the Scottish Conservatives Peter Duncan who says his party's made a bold strategy.

Mr Duncan says is unusual and bold to set out your stall that your party is not going to be in government.

In what he terms a "lacklustre and low key campaign", he says the Tories have done relatively well to say the key battle is who comes second in this election.

Mr Duncan  says he suspects there will be a good result on Friday for the Tories which they would want to see them being in second place.

Scottish Green Party co-conveners Patrick Harvie and Maggie Chapman are visiting Fife College in Rosyth, the first college to develop wind turbine technician apprenticeships. 

The pair are highlighting their plans to create over 200,000 jobs in new industries, and their policy of a Scotland Guarantee of work, training or further education for every school leaver.

Image source, Thinkstock

Ahead of the visit Patrick Harvie said: "With more Green MSPs Holyrood can be bolder and prioritise investment in the jobs of the future."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie takes to the mini golf course to get his campaign message home.

Mr Rennie is visiting Paradise Island Adventure Golf in Braehead,

Image source, bbc

The Scottish Lib Dem leader is calling on voters in areas that have not had a Lib Dem constituency MSP in the past to vote for his party.  

Image source, bbc

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson arrives at Longside Airfield outside Peterhead as her chopper tour of Scotland continues.

On this penultimate day of campaigning, she will take in Oban, Keith and Peterhead to spread her message that only she can provide the strong opposition to the SNP in the Scottish Parliament and saying no to a second independence referendum

Ahead of the visit, Ms Davidson said: "Many people are supporting me because they just want an opposition at Holyrood which will really hold the SNP to account for once. 

"Labour has had its chance - I am ready to step up and do a job for Scotland."

BBC Radio Scotland
Good Morning Scotland

Good Morning Scotland broadcast live from Falkirk this morning as political leaders give their final push ahead of the Holyrood election.

Former Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson says the debate has finally moved towards how to raise money for the economy and the best way to spend it.

Ms Swinson says this is something that has been missing from previous campaigns.

"It's not good enough just to just sort of blame Westminster and harp on about it being someone else's responsibility", she said.

BBC Radio Scotland
Good Morning Scotland

The Good Morning Scotland programme came from Falkirk today as the Holyrood election campaign entered its final two days of campaigning. 

Former Labour MP Michael Connarty told the programme there is a lot of apathy around this campaign but his party's message seems to be getting through.

Image source, bbc

Mr Connarty says people would like to pay more because they know services are going down.

He says, under Scottish Labour's tax plans, people earning more will pay a little more and he thinks people are up for it.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale will visit Wonderworld soft play centre in Glasgow today. 

With less than 48 hours left until polls open, Ms Dugdale will issue a warning that there are just two days left to avoid £3 billion of cuts to Scotland’s public services 

Ahead of the soft play visit she said:  “The choice at this election is absolutely clear – it is between guaranteed rises in spending on public services with Labour, or more cuts with the SNP. 

"That is what people are voting for on Thursday."

Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Correspondent

Our political correspondent Glenn Campbell told Good Morning Scotland that the final push for votes has begun, after a six week campaign.

Glenn says the party leaders will be across the country today from Paisley to Peterhead trying to persuade those who have not made their mind up yet.

The campaigns have boiled down to core messages: 

• The SNP will push the idea they would be a strong government
• The Tories that they would be a strong opposition
• Labour arguing their plans to increase tax would stop the cuts to public services
• The Lib Dems with similar tax plans arguing education should be the focus