Plurality voting refers to electoral systems in which a candidate in an electoral district who polls more than any other (that is, receives a plurality) is elected. Used for elections of representative bodies, it competes with the proportional representation[1] (where the composition of the body reflects the percentage of the votes received across all districts). In systems based on single-member districts, the plurality system elects just one member per district and is then frequently called a "first-past-the-post" (FPTP), sometimes "single-member [district] plurality" (SMP/SMDP).[2] A system that elects multiple winners elected at once with the plurality rule and where each voter casts multiple X votes in a multi-seat district is referred to as plurality block voting. A semi-proportional system that elects multiple winners elected at once with the plurality rule and where each voter casts just one vote in a multi-seat district is known as single non-transferable voting.
Plurality voting is distinguished from majority voting, in which a winning candidate must receive an absolute majority of votes: more than half of all votes (more than all other candidates combined if each voter has one vote). Under single-winner plurality voting, the leading candidate, whether or not they have a majority of votes, is elected.[3]
Plurality voting is widely used throughout the English-speaking world as a result of its spread by the British Empire, including in most of the United States. Outside of the English-speaking world, it is slightly less popular than its close cousin, the runoff family of methods.
Social choice theorists and electoral reform advocates are generally opposed to plurality voting and its variants, citing major issues such as a high vulnerability to spoilers, a tendency towards duopoly and lesser of two evils voting, and their bias toward extremist candidates (as a result of failing the median voter theorem).
^Mudambi, Navarra & Nicosia 1996, p. 341.
^"Plurality-Majority Systems". Mtholyoke.edu. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
^Cooper, Duane; Zillante, Arthur (January 2012). "A comparison of cumulative voting and generalized plurality voting". Public Choice. 150 (1–2): 363–383. doi:10.1007/s11127-010-9707-5. ISSN 0048-5829. S2CID 154416463.
casts just one vote in a multi-seat district is known as single non-transferable voting. Pluralityvoting is distinguished from majority voting, in which a...
Plurality block voting, also known as plurality-at-large voting, bloc vote or block voting (BV) is a non-proportional voting system for electing representatives...
Plurality voting, system in which each voter votes for one candidate and the candidate with a plurality is elected Plurality-at-large voting or block voting, system...
method. Block voting encompasses two primary types: plurality block voting and majority block voting. The former only requires a plurality to elect candidates...
The term ranked voting, also known as preferential voting or ranked-choice voting, pertains to any voting system where voters indicate a rank to order...
single-round pluralityvoting, but spoiled elections remain common, moreso than in other systems. Modern tournament voting eliminates vote splitting effects...
tactical voting is a situation where a voter casts a ballot in a way other than to obtain a more desirable outcome. For example, in a plurality or instant-runoff...
multiple preferences (any system other than plurality or anti-plurality) Optional preferential voting Ranked voting methods, all election methods that involve...
first-past-the-post voting, plurality block voting, the two-round (runoff) system and ranked voting (STV or Instant-runoff voting). Mixed systems and...
a result, C is chosen as the winner by highest medians. Pluralityvoting is a ranked voting system where voters rank candidates from first to last, and...
Runoff voting can refer to: Sequential-loser methods based on pluralityvoting: Two-round system, a voting system where only the top two candidates from...
plurality systems – such as first-past-the-post (FPTP), instant-runoff voting (IRV), block voting, and ranked-vote block voting – one party or voting...
voting systems require different levels of support to be elected. Pluralityvoting (First-past-the-post voting) elects the candidate with more votes than...
groups replaced STV with plurality-at-large voting in 1957. From 1870 to 1980, Illinois used a semi-proportional cumulative voting system to elect its House...
often happens that no candidate takes a majority of the votes (see Plurality (voting)). Majoritarian representation is applied here to mean district contests...
as seats are being elected. Pluralityvoting only allows a single vote, so bullet voting is effectively mandatory. Voting for more than one candidate...
include any Condorcet method, instant-runoff voting, Bucklin voting, pluralityvoting, and approval voting. The criterion was originally defined in relation...
positional voting system, that is, all preferences are counted but at different values; the other commonly-used positional system is pluralityvoting (which...
refer to: Majority, a voting requirement of more than half of all votes cast Plurality (voting), a voting requirement of more votes cast for a proposition...
popular vote went towards unpledged Federalist electors. Adams's only electoral vote came from a faithless elector. Jackson won a plurality of electoral...
proportion to voter preferences, resulting in fewer wasted votes than in pluralityvoting. The wasted vote includes the total number of voters not represented...
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