Electoral system
How votes turn into results. Required on every contest, since a result means nothing without it. 40% wins outright under first-past-the-post, forces a runoff under a two-round system, and earns only a share of seats under a party list. Naming the system lets this profile work in any country.
Part of the Elections and results profile, used by Contest.
Terms
| Code | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
fptp |
First past the post | One seat. Most votes wins. No majority needed. |
blockVote |
Block vote | Several seats. Each voter gets as many votes as there are seats. The highest totals win. |
twoRound |
Two-round | A second round between the leading candidates if no one clears the threshold in the first round. |
partyList |
Party-list proportional | Seats go to parties in proportion to their share of the vote. |
stv |
Single transferable vote | Several seats, ranked ballots. Extra and eliminated votes transfer to other candidates. |
mmp |
Mixed-member proportional | Some seats come from constituencies, and list seats top up the total to make it proportional. |
parallel |
Parallel or mixed | Constituency seats and list seats are counted separately, with no top-up between them. |
rankedChoice |
Ranked choice (instant runoff) | One seat, ranked ballots. The last-place candidate is eliminated and their votes transfer until someone has a majority. |
approval |
Approval | Voters can approve as many candidates as they like. Most approvals wins. |
indirect |
Indirect | Chosen by an electoral college or a sitting body instead of directly by voters. |