Pluralitymajority

Plurality-majority is an electoral rule used in some single-winner elections in which a candidate must win an absolute majority (more than 50 percent) to be declared the winner. If no candidate reaches a majority in the first round, a runoff election is held between the top two candidates, and the winner of the runoff is declared the officeholder.

In practice, the first round typically uses a straightforward voting procedure where the candidate with the most votes may only win outright if they exceed 50 percent. If no candidate achieves a majority, only the top two candidates proceed to a second round, where a direct vote determines the winner. Some variants establish specific rules for advancing candidates to the runoff, but the common form is a two-round system with a runoff between the leading contenders.

Usage examples include presidential elections in countries such as France and Brazil, where a two-round majority system is used to ensure the eventual winner has broad support. Similar arrangements are used in certain legislative elections in various jurisdictions, particularly for positions that previously employed plurality voting but sought to guarantee majority endorsement.

Advantages of plurality-majority systems include the promotion of majority legitimacy, mitigation of spoiler effects, and encouragement of broad-based choices in the runoff. Critics point to higher cost and longer election timelines, potential turnout declines in the runoff, and strategic behavior in both rounds, such as forming coalitions or window dressing in the first round to influence the second.

See also: two-round system, runoff voting, plurality voting, majority rule.