Plurality
Encyclopedia
In North American English
, the term plurality, used in the context of voting, refers to the largest number of votes
to be received by any candidate or referendum
. It is contrasted with a majority
, which is more than half of the votes. For example, in a multiple contested race, plurality
is the candidate with the most votes, while in a majority
election a candidate can only win if they also receive over half of the votes. When no candidate receives a majority in the first round of voting, a two-round system
or preferential voting
system can be used to choose a winner. When there are only two choices, the plurality choice is also the majority choice.
Systems allowing plurality election are more vulnerable to corruption using the spoiler effect
than systems which require a majority.
For example, an election of three candidates where 100 votes are cast, with Alice winning 40 votes, and Bob and Carol winning 31 and 29 votes respectively. A Briton might say "Alice won with a majority of 9", whereas a Canadian wishing to express the same sentiment would say "Alice won with a plurality." The Canadian would only describe Alice as winning with a majority if Alice won with at least 51 votes.
The term relative majority is a synonym for plurality, that can also be used if necessary to distinguish that kind of 'majority' from an overall majority.
North American English
North American English is the variety of the English language of North America, including that of the United States and Canada. Because of their shared histories and the similarities between the pronunciation, vocabulary and accent of American English and Canadian English, the two spoken languages...
, the term plurality, used in the context of voting, refers to the largest number of votes
Voting
Voting is a method for a group such as a meeting or an electorate to make a decision or express an opinion—often following discussions, debates, or election campaigns. It is often found in democracies and republics.- Reasons for voting :...
to be received by any candidate or referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
. It is contrasted with a majority
Majority
A majority is a subset of a group consisting of more than half of its members. This can be compared to a plurality, which is a subset larger than any other subset; i.e. a plurality is not necessarily a majority as the largest subset may consist of less than half the group's population...
, which is more than half of the votes. For example, in a multiple contested race, plurality
Plurality voting system
The plurality voting system is a single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member constituencies...
is the candidate with the most votes, while in a majority
Majority
A majority is a subset of a group consisting of more than half of its members. This can be compared to a plurality, which is a subset larger than any other subset; i.e. a plurality is not necessarily a majority as the largest subset may consist of less than half the group's population...
election a candidate can only win if they also receive over half of the votes. When no candidate receives a majority in the first round of voting, a two-round system
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
or preferential voting
Preferential voting
Preferential voting is a type of ballot structure used in several electoral systems in which voters rank candidates in order of relative preference. For example, the voter may select their first choice as '1', their second preference a '2', and so on...
system can be used to choose a winner. When there are only two choices, the plurality choice is also the majority choice.
Systems allowing plurality election are more vulnerable to corruption using the spoiler effect
Spoiler effect
The spoiler effect describes the effect a minor party candidate with little chance of winning has in a close election, when that candidate's presence in the election draws votes from a major candidate similar to them, thereby causing a candidate dissimilar to them to win the election...
than systems which require a majority.
In British English
In UK constituency elections, which typically feature three or more candidates representing major parties, the word majority is used for this concept, with the term overall or absolute majority being used to refer to the narrower North American meaning of majority.For example, an election of three candidates where 100 votes are cast, with Alice winning 40 votes, and Bob and Carol winning 31 and 29 votes respectively. A Briton might say "Alice won with a majority of 9", whereas a Canadian wishing to express the same sentiment would say "Alice won with a plurality." The Canadian would only describe Alice as winning with a majority if Alice won with at least 51 votes.
The term relative majority is a synonym for plurality, that can also be used if necessary to distinguish that kind of 'majority' from an overall majority.