A two-round voting system. In the first round, voters choose their favoured candidate. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, the top two candidates in the first round go to the second round of voting. The winner of the second round is declared the overall winner.
Two-round voting is a voting system in which the first round determines whether a candidate is eligible for the second round. The second round could be a runoff between the top two candidates from the first round, an election by plurality among candidates who won their political parties’ nominations in the first round, or an election by plurality among candidates from the first round who met a particular requirement.
For example, in a presidential election, if no candidate obtains a majority of the votes in the first round, the top two candidates from the first round advance to the second round of voting. This is an example of a two-round vote.
Explanation: Many countries employ two-round voting to ensure that the victorious candidate receives the majority of votes. During the first round, voters can select from a number of candidates. If no candidate obtains a majority of votes, the top two candidates from the first round advance to the second round. This ensures that the victorious candidate has support from the majority of voters.
Two-round voting, also known as runoff voting or the two-round system, is an electoral system used to elect a single winner in a multi-candidate election where no candidate receives an absolute majority of votes in the first round.
In the first round of voting, all candidates compete against each other. If no candidate receives an absolute majority (usually 50% plus one) of the votes, the top two candidates with the highest number of votes proceed to a second round of voting.
Two-round voting is used to ensure that the winning candidate has majority support. It allows voters to express their preferences more fully by giving them the opportunity to vote strategically in the second round between the top two candidates.
Two-round voting is used in various countries around the world, including France, Brazil, and many others. It is also used in some regional and local elections in other countries.
Two-round voting helps to ensure that the winning candidate has broad-based support from the electorate, reduces the likelihood of electing a candidate with only minority support, and encourages coalition-building among candidates and parties.
Critics of two-round voting argue that it can be costly to administer, prolongs the election process, and may lead to voter fatigue or decreased turnout in the second round.
Yes, candidates who are eliminated in the first round can endorse another candidate in the second round, although whether such endorsements have a significant impact can vary.
In the event of a tie in the second round of voting, various procedures may be followed depending on the electoral laws of the jurisdiction, such as drawing lots or holding a new election.
No, two-round voting differs from instant-runoff voting (IRV) or ranked-choice voting, although they are all methods used to ensure majority support for the winning candidate. In IRV, voters rank candidates in order of preference, while in two-round voting, there are only two rounds of voting.
More information about two-round voting and its legal implications can be obtained from electoral authorities, government agencies responsible for elections, and academic studies on electoral systems and voting methods.
This site contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. Persuing this glossary does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
This glossary post was last updated: 4th April 2024.
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