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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.
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.
== See also: ==
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:
* 20 votes for proposition A
* 40 votes for proposition B
* 10 votes for proposition C
* 10 votes are blank
*[[majoritarian]]
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]].
In an election for president in the same club having candidates Jim, Bob, Sally, and Bridget, the results are as follows:
* 20 votes for Jim
* 20 votes for Bob
* 40 votes for Sally
* 2 votes for Bridget
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]].
Tie votes do not meet simple majority and are classfied as failures.
[[Category:Voting theory]]
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