runoff elections
Second-round voting contests
Runoff elections occur when no candidate wins enough votes—typically a majority—in the initial contest.
The top two vote-getters face each other in a second round to determine a clear winner.
Common in primary elections and some general elections: The race is headed to a runoff.
Also called a second-round election or simply a runoff.
- majority votingPrevailing by greatest number
- ballotVoting document
- turnout ratesProportion who showed up
- low turnoutScant participation rate
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
Georgia · primary elections · head-to-head · final showdown · Louisiana · voter outreach · get out the vote · voter turnout · swing voters · voting · vote · absentee · winner take all · second round · electoral reform · overtime · recount · candidates
- electionsballot, ballots, voter registration, candidates, polls
- governance reformsconstitutional convention, constitutional court, amendment process, bill of rights, checks and balances
- political reformpolitical reform, electoral reform, campaign finance, term limits, redistricting
- Municipal Reformzoning reform, budget reform, pension reform, tax reform, city charter
- votingballot, vote, voters, ballots, voter
- Voting Rightsvoter registration, voter suppression, voter turnout, voting access, enfranchisement
runoff electionsfirst-past-the-post
Most votes wins
winner-take-all · ranked-choice voting · proportional representation · preferential voting
runoff electionsappointment
Scheduled time for something
acclamation · coronation · party nomination · anointment · succession