Topics Review #1 (1.1 - 1.3)

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What is a plurality election?

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A plurality election is a voting system in which the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of whether they achieve a majority (more than 50% of the votes).

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What is the smallest number of votes a winning candidate can have in a plurality election?

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In a plurality election, the smallest number of votes a winning candidate can have is one more than half of the total votes cast, but it can also be as low as the highest number of votes received by any candidate if no candidate receives a majority.

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What is a Borda Count election?

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A Borda Count election is a voting method in which voters rank candidates in order of preference, and points are assigned based on the rankings. The candidate with the highest total points wins.

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How do you determine the winner in a head-to-head comparison?

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In a head-to-head comparison, the candidate who receives more votes than their opponent in a direct matchup is declared the winner.

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What is the difference between plurality and majority?

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A plurality is when a candidate receives more votes than any other candidate, while a majority requires a candidate to receive more than half of the total votes.

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What is the minimum number of votes needed for a candidate to win a majority?

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To win a majority, a candidate needs more than half of the total votes cast. For example, in an election with 30 votes, a candidate needs at least 16 votes to win a majority.

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What does it mean to vote strategically?

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Voting strategically means casting a vote not just for a preferred candidate, but in a way that maximizes the chances of that candidate winning, often by considering the likely votes of others.

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What is a tie in an election?

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A tie occurs when two or more candidates receive the same number of votes, resulting in no clear winner.

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How can voters influence the outcome of an election?

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Voters can influence the outcome of an election by voting for candidates they prefer, voting strategically, and mobilizing others to vote.

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What is the significance of ranking candidates in elections?

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Ranking candidates allows voters to express their preferences more fully, which can lead to more representative outcomes in voting systems like Borda Count.