first-past-the-post
Plurality voting method
First-past-the-post is an electoral system where the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of whether they achieve a majority.
Used in the UK, US, and Canada for legislative elections: First-past-the-post tends to produce two dominant parties.
Critics argue it wastes votes cast for losing candidates and can elect representatives opposed by most voters.
Also called winner-take-all.
Largest share among several
- winner-take-allOnly champion receives reward
- constituencyElectoral district's voters
- ballotVoting document
- majoritarianRule by most voters
voting · Westminster · riding · district · spoiler · tactical · swing · safe seat
Seats allocated by vote share
- ranked choiceVoting by ordered preference
- runoffExcess water drainage
- mixed-memberDual-ballot electoral system
- thresholdPoint of beginning
coalition · third party · reform · abolition · referendum · fairness · legitimacy · representation
London's political center
- UKBritish sovereign state
- CanadaNorthern North American nation
- IndiaSouth Asian republic
- United StatesNorth American federal republic
Britain · Congress · House of Commons · general election · by-election · midterms · colonial · Commonwealth
plurality
Largest share among several
- winner-take-allOnly champion receives reward
- constituencyElectoral district's voters
- ballotVoting document
majoritarian · voting · Westminster · riding · district · spoiler · tactical · swing · safe seat · marginal
proportional representation
Seats allocated by vote share
- ranked choiceVoting by ordered preference
- runoffExcess water drainage
- mixed-memberDual-ballot electoral system
threshold · coalition · third party · reform · abolition · referendum · fairness · legitimacy · representation · minority government
Westminster
London's political center
United States · Britain · Congress · House of Commons · general election · by-election · midterms · colonial · Commonwealth · Nigeria
- competitionscontests, tournaments, match, matches, game
- electionsballot, ballots, voter registration, candidates, polls
- parliamentparliament, bills, votes, vote, debate
- partisan politicsDemocrats, Republicans, party loyalty, party line, polarization
first-past-the-postproportional representation
Seats allocated by vote share