stichwahlen

Stichwahlen, also known as run-off elections, are a common electoral system used in many countries to ensure a candidate receives a majority of the vote. In a stichwahl, if no candidate secures more than fifty percent of the votes cast in the first round, a second election is held. This second round typically involves only the top two candidates from the initial vote.

The purpose of a stichwahl is to avoid situations where a winner is elected with only a plurality, meaning they received more votes than any other candidate but less than a majority. This can happen when there are multiple candidates in the first round, splitting the vote among them. A run-off election guarantees that the eventual winner will have the explicit support of at least half of the voters who participate in the second round.

Stichwahlen are employed in various political systems for different offices, including presidential elections, parliamentary seats, and sometimes mayoral contests. The rules regarding the number of candidates advancing to the second round, the timeframe between the two rounds, and the specific requirements for winning can vary significantly depending on the country's electoral laws. For example, in some systems, if a candidate withdraws before the second round, the next highest polling candidate may advance. In others, the election might proceed with only the remaining candidates. The introduction of stichwahlen is often debated in electoral reform discussions as a mechanism to enhance democratic legitimacy by ensuring a broader mandate for elected officials.