vähimmäisääniä

Vähimmäisääniä refers to the minimum number of votes required for a candidate or a proposal to be considered valid or to win an election. The specific threshold for vähimmäisääniä can vary significantly depending on the electoral system, the type of election, and the jurisdiction. In some electoral systems, vähimmäisääniä might be a simple majority, meaning more than half of the votes cast. In others, it could be an absolute majority, requiring a candidate to secure a specific percentage, such as 50% plus one vote, to avoid a runoff election.

The concept of vähimmäisääniä is crucial in ensuring that elected officials or approved proposals have a certain level of popular support. It aims to prevent outcomes where a candidate or proposal could win with a very small fraction of the overall vote, especially in systems with multiple candidates or parties. For instance, in a presidential election, if no candidate reaches the vähimmäisääniä threshold in the first round, a second round of voting is typically held between the top two contenders. Similarly, in referendums, a minimum turnout or a specific percentage of "yes" votes might be set as vähimmäisääniä for the proposal to be legally binding. The exact implementation and interpretation of vähimmäisääniä are often defined by constitutional law or electoral legislation.