Civic · 6 pages · 12 min

Why a plurality is not a majority

A plurality is more votes than any rival, which can still be less than half.

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From the opening

A plurality is the largest number of votes among the options, even if that number is well below half of all votes cast. A majority is more than half, and a candidate can therefore hold a plurality and lack a majority whenever the rest of the votes are split among others. The opening covers first place can be under half, the rest can outnumber the winner, and two-candidate races hide the gap.

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Inside

First place can be under half
The rest can outnumber the winner
Two-candidate races hide the gap
Runoffs demand an actual majority
Where the idea stops applying
A distinction worth keeping

Sources

Plurality versus majority
First-past-the-post winner without half

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Why a plurality is not a majority

From the opening

Inside

Sources

Also on the desk