Majoritaire

Majoritaire is a term used in political science to describe electoral arrangements in which the winner is determined by obtaining a majority of votes. It is distinguished from proportional representation, where seats are allocated to reflect overall vote shares. Majoritaire systems cover several variants, and their common aim is to produce a clear winner based on majority support rather than proportional seat totals.

The two main forms are the absolute-majority system with a runoff and the plurality, or first-past-the-post, approach. In an absolute-majority system, a candidate must secure more than half the votes to win in a given contest; if no candidate achieves this in the first round, a second round is held, typically among the leading candidates, after which a majority winner is declared. In the plurality variant, the candidate who receives the most votes wins the contest even if they do not attain a majority. This latter form is common in single-member districts and is often labeled simply as first-past-the-post.

Majoritaire methods are widely used in national and local elections in various countries, and they are particularly associated with systems that emphasize one-party or stable government outcomes. Critics argue that majoritaire systems can exaggerate the power of larger parties, diminish representation for smaller or regional groups, and convert votes into seats in a way that reduces proportionality. Proponents contend that such systems provide decisiveness, clear accountability, and straightforward governance.

Etymology: majoritaire derives from the French word majorité, meaning the greater part or more than half of a group.