Voting Formats
Voting Formats
Plurality Voting:
Plurality voting, also known as "first past the post" or "simple majority voting", is a common electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes wins, even if they do not receive an outright majority. Each voter casts one vote, and the candidate with the highest number of votes in a single member district is elected. This system is widely used in countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It tends to favor larger political parties, often leading to a two-party system and discouraging smaller parties.
Ranked Choice Voting:
Ranked choice voting, also known as “preferential voting”, is an electoral system where voters rank candidates by preference instead of choosing just one. If no candidate gets an outright majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed according to the next preference on each ballot. This process continues until a candidate achieves a majority. Ranked choice voting is designed to ensure that the winner has broad support, reducing the "spoiler effect" seen in plurality systems.
Cumulative Voting:
Cumulative voting, also known as “dot voting”, is a voting system that gives voters a certain number of votes, typically based on the number of seats available. Voters can allocate multiple votes to one candidate or distribute them among several candidates. This system is used to ensure more proportional representation, especially in cases where minority groups seek a greater chance of electing their preferred candidates. It is employed in various corporate governance settings and some political elections to promote diversity and fairness in representation.
Range Voting:
Range voting, also called "score voting", is a voting system where voters assign a score to each candidate, typically within a set range (0 to 5 or 1 to 10). The candidate with the highest total or average score wins. Unlike plurality or ranked choice systems, score voting allows voters to express varying levels of preference for multiple candidates, which can lead to more nuanced outcomes. This method is used in certain non-governmental elections and is praised for reducing strategic voting and better reflecting voter preferences.