valgomgang

Valgomgang is a phase in some electoral systems where ballots are cast more than once to determine a winner when no candidate achieves the required threshold in the initial round. In a typical two-round system, a candidate must win an absolute majority (more than 50 percent). If no candidate reaches this in the first round, the election proceeds to a second round, usually with only the top two candidates or a restricted set of contenders. The second round then determines the winner by majority.

In other variants, such as multi-round systems, more rounds can occur if no candidate reaches the target threshold in the earlier rounds; each round narrows the field and may include adjustments in voter eligibility or candidate lists. Different jurisdictions specify rules for who is eligible to participate in subsequent rounds and whether ballots from previous rounds remain valid.

The purpose of valgomgang is to ensure the elected candidate has broad support and legitimacy, particularly in contests with many candidates or a divided electorate. However, it can affect turnout, campaign strategy, and the speed of final results. Turnout may decline in later rounds, and parties may seek to consolidate support between rounds.

Examples include France’s two-round presidential elections and various national, regional, or local elections in other countries that employ runoff or multi-round formats. The term is used primarily in Scandinavian contexts to denote electoral rounds and mirrors similar concepts in other systems.

Etymology: Norwegian, combining valg (election) and omgang (round).