Majority: Difference between revisions
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A '''majority''' means more than half of the counted preferences. For example, a candidate who receives 23 of 35 votes is said to have won a ''majority'' of the votes, while a candidate who wins 16 of 35 votes has not, regardless of whether they have received a [[plurality]] of votes. |
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A '''simple majority''' is the most common requirement in voting for a measure to pass, especially in deliberative bodies and small organizations. It means that, of those who cast a vote for or against a proposition or candidate, more than half of the votes is necessary for election. |
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== See also: == |
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As an example, let's consider three propositions: A, B, and C, that are proposed in a club of 100 members. In order for a proposition to be successful, a simple majority must agree to it. The results of the election are: |
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* 20 votes for proposition A |
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* 40 votes for proposition B |
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* 10 votes for proposition C |
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* 10 votes are blank |
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*[[majoritarian]] |
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Since there are more votes for B than there are votes for both A and C combined, B has the simple majority, and so wins. Notice that abstentions and non-voters do not affect a simple majority process, since they neither support nor oppose. They only affect an [[absolute majority]]. |
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In an election for president in the same club having candidates Jim, Bob, Sally, and Bridget, the results are as follows: |
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* 20 votes for Jim |
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* 20 votes for Bob |
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* 40 votes for Sally |
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* 2 votes for Bridget |
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In this election, no one has more votes than the combined votes of the opponents, so no one wins. In a case like this, most systems would either adopt a [[plurality]] rule or would have a second [[runoff election]]. |
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Tie votes do not meet simple majority and are classfied as failures. |
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[[Category:Voting theory]] |
[[Category:Voting theory]] |
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{{fromwikipedia}} |
{{fromwikipedia}} |
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Revision as of 01:45, 14 February 2005
A majority means more than half of the counted preferences. For example, a candidate who receives 23 of 35 votes is said to have won a majority of the votes, while a candidate who wins 16 of 35 votes has not, regardless of whether they have received a plurality of votes.