Majoritetsröstning

Majoritetsröstning, or majority voting, is a decision rule in which the option that receives more than half of the votes cast wins. In some contexts, the threshold equals an absolute majority of all eligible voters, requiring participation to count toward the threshold. If no option attains the threshold, procedures such as runoff elections or repeated rounds may be triggered.

Common forms include simple (or ordinary) majority: more than half of the votes cast for that option; absolute majority: more than half of all eligible voters, regardless of turnout; and supermajority: a higher share, such as two-thirds or three-fifths. A related concept is plurality, where the winner is the option with the most votes but not necessarily a majority; not a form of majority voting by strict definition.

In practice, majoritetsröstning is used in many electoral systems for single-winner elections, legislative votes on bills or procedures that require a clear mandate, and referendums. In organizations, it governs how decisions are made in boards or committees that operate under majority rule.

Advantages include decisiveness, clarity, and accountability; disadvantages include potential marginalization of minority opinions, susceptibility to abstention affecting outcomes, and the possibility of strategic voting. Some systems mitigate these through runoff rounds, weighted voting, or alternating voting schemes.

The concept is central to constitutional design in many democracies and is often contrasted with proportional representation, which seeks to reflect the share of votes in seats rather than relying on a majority winner.