Plurality System
Definition
A plurality system is an electoral system in which the candidate who receives the most votes wins, regardless of whether they have obtained an absolute majority.
Related terms
Single-Member District: In a single-member district, each geographic district elects only one representative to a legislative body.
Majority System: In a majority system, candidates need to obtain more than 50% of votes to win. If no candidate achieves this in the first round, there may be a runoff election between the top two candidates.
First-Past-The-Post (FPTP): First-past-the-post is another term for plurality systems where candidates with the most votes win, regardless of whether they have an absolute majority.
"Plurality System" appears in:
Study guides (1)
AP Comparative Government - 4.1 Unit 4 - Electoral Systems and Rules
Additional resources (1)
AP Comparative Government - Unit 4 Overview: Party, Electoral Systems, and Citizen Organizations
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Cram Mode
AP Score Calculators
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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.