Plurality voting

It has been suggested that this article should be split into articles titled First past the post and Plurality (voting). (discuss) (May 2024)

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Plurality voting refers to electoral systems in the candidates in an electoral district who poll more than any other (that is, receive a plurality) are elected.^[1]

Under single-winner plurality voting, and in systems based on single-member districts, plurality voting is called single member [district] plurality (SMP),^[2][3] which is widely known as "first-past-the-post". In SMP/FPTP the leading candidate, whether or not they have a majority of votes, is elected.^[4]

There are several versions of plurality voting for multi-member district.^[5] The system that elects multiple winners at once with the plurality rule and where each voter casts multiple X votes in a multi-seat district is referred to as plurality block voting. A semi-proportional system that elects multiple winners elected at once with the plurality rule and where each voter casts just one vote in a multi-seat district is known as single non-transferable voting.

Plurality voting is widely used throughout the English-speaking world as a result of its spread by the British Empire, including in most of the United States. Outside of the English-speaking world, it is slightly less popular than its close relatives, the runoff family of methods.^{[citation needed]}

Social choice theorists and electoral reform advocates generally oppose plurality voting and its variants, citing major issues such as a high vulnerability to spoilers, a tendency towards duopoly and lesser of two evils voting, and their bias toward extremist candidates (as a result of failing the median voter theorem).