førstpastthepost

Först past the post, often abbreviated FPTP and translated into Swedish as först past the post, is an electoral system used for electing representatives in single-member districts. In each district, voters cast one vote for one candidate, and the candidate who receives the most votes wins the seat, even if that candidate does not achieve an absolute majority. The overall composition of the legislature is the sum of all district winners.

Common characteristics of FPTP include single-member districts, simple plurality voting, and a lack of proportional allocation of seats based on the national vote. Because only the top vote-getter in each district earns a seat, many votes can be “wasted” on losing candidates, and a party can win a large share of seats without a corresponding share of the national vote. The system tends to produce stable, with either single-party majority or minority governments, and it often strengthens geographic representation.

Advantages often cited include simplicity, fast results, and a clear link between representatives and their constituencies. Criticisms focus on disproportionality between votes and seats, underrepresentation of smaller parties, and the potential for regional bias. Critics argue that FPTP can reduce voter choice and discourage broader policy platforms in favor of broad national appeal.

FPTP is widely used in the United Kingdom, Canada, India and several other former British colonies, as well as in various local and national elections around the world. It contrasts with proportional representation and other systems designed to allocate seats more closely to the national vote share, or with ranked-choice and two-round alternatives that can alter strategic voting dynamics.