Projektionsval

Projektionsval, also known as projection voting, is a method used in certain voting systems to determine the winner of an election or contest with multiple candidates. The term originates from the idea of "projecting" or extending a voter’s preferences beyond their top choice, particularly in ranked-choice or preferential voting systems.

In a standard projection voting system, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate secures an outright majority in the first round of counting, the candidate with the fewest first-place votes is eliminated. Their votes are then redistributed to the remaining candidates based on the voters’ next highest preference. This process continues until one candidate achieves a majority of the votes, ensuring that the winner has broad support across the electorate.

This method is designed to reduce the "spoiler effect," where a minor candidate might draw votes away from a major candidate they oppose, potentially altering the outcome. By allowing voters to express nuanced preferences, projection voting aims to produce results that more accurately reflect the collective will of the electorate.

Projection voting is commonly associated with systems like Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) and the Alternative Vote (AV), both of which are used in various local and national elections worldwide. It is particularly favored in contexts where voters wish to avoid voting for a "lesser evil" but still influence the outcome through their ranked preferences. The system encourages broader participation and can lead to more representative outcomes compared to traditional plurality voting.