voting system
How votes count
A voting system is a method for collecting and counting votes to determine the outcome of an election or decision.
Different systems produce different results from the same preferences: plurality voting awards victory to whoever gets the most votes, while ranked-choice systems eliminate candidates progressively.
The county adopted a new voting system after the contested election.
The choice of voting system shapes political outcomes, coalition-building, and representation.
Ballot listing candidates by preference
- proportionalScaled to match another
- first-past-the-postMost votes wins
- pluralityLargest share among several
- majoritarianRule by most voters
mixed-member · approval · cumulative · score · range · preferential · runoff · contingent
Formal candidate selection
- candidacyPursuit of office
- slateFissile metamorphic rock
- ticketEntry permit slip
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
primary · caucus · runoff · referendum · plebiscite · initiative · recall · proposition
Electoral district's voters
- precinctAdministrative jurisdiction zone
- wardProtected person; division
- districtBounded administrative area
- apportionmentDivision into shares
redistricting · gerrymandering · bicameral · unicameral · delegation · representation · threshold · quota
Rule by the people
- republicState with elected leaders
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- assemblyConstructing from components
representative · participatory · deliberative · coalition · majority · minority · opposition · mandate
Parts of a whole
- citizenryBody of inhabitants
- franchiseLicensed business operation
- suffrageRight to cast ballots
- enfranchisementGranting citizenship rights
disenfranchisement · turnout · registration · eligibility · roll · universal · compulsory · participation
Pressed pulp for writing
- absenteeOne not in attendance
- mail-inSubmitted by post
- electronicRelating to circuitry devices
- provisionalConditional and possibly temporary
spoiled · blank · write-in · secret · lever · touchscreen · drop-box · curing
ranked-choice
Ballot listing candidates by preference
- proportionalScaled to match another
- first-past-the-postMost votes wins
- pluralityLargest share among several
majoritarian · mixed-member · approval · cumulative · score · range · preferential · runoff · contingent · nonpartisan
nomination
Formal candidate selection
campaign · primary · caucus · runoff · referendum · plebiscite · initiative · recall · proposition · measure
constituency
Electoral district's voters
- precinctAdministrative jurisdiction zone
- wardProtected person; division
- districtBounded administrative area
apportionment · redistricting · gerrymandering · bicameral · unicameral · delegation · representation · threshold · quota · weighted
democracy
Rule by the people
- republicState with elected leaders
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
assembly · representative · participatory · deliberative · coalition · majority · minority · opposition · mandate · legitimacy
constituents
Parts of a whole
enfranchisement · disenfranchisement · turnout · registration · eligibility · roll · universal · compulsory · participation · poll-tax
paper
Pressed pulp for writing
- absenteeOne not in attendance
- mail-inSubmitted by post
- electronicRelating to circuitry devices
provisional · spoiled · blank · write-in · secret · lever · touchscreen · drop-box · curing · audit
- Nordic Politicssocial democracy, welfare state, coalition talks, proportional representation, Labour Party
- electionsballot, ballots, candidates, polls, election day
- systemsecosystems, ecosystem, biological systems, transportation network, communication systems
- US Governmentexecutive branch, legislative branch, judicial branch, Congress, House
- governmentgovernment, ministries, legislature, judiciary, executive branch
- institutionsacademy, government, public hospitals, museum, public libraries
voting systemdictatorship
Unchecked single-ruler government
autocracy · monarchy · tyranny · hereditary succession · military junta
voting systemone-man rule
Absolute individual governance
command structure · imposition · diktat · centralized control
voting systemacclamation
Enthusiastic public praise
coronation · anointment · lottery · random selection · sham election
vote, system, voting, voter, votes, voted, voters, outvoted, outvote