Which voting system allows a candidate to win by receiving the most votes, regardless of the total votes cast?

The First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system is designed so that the candidate who receives the most votes in a single electoral district wins the election. This means that it is possible for a candidate to win even if they do not achieve an absolute majority (more than 50% of the votes). In FPTP, the total number of votes does not need to meet a certain threshold, and the candidate with the highest number of votes, regardless of whether they receive a majority, is declared the winner.

This system is widely used in various elections, especially in countries like Canada and the United States. It emphasizes the idea of plurality, where having the most votes secures victory, making it straightforward for voters to understand and for candidates to campaign effectively.

Understanding this voting mechanism can clarify how FPTP can lead to outcomes where a candidate can win with a relatively small share of the electorate’s support, which is not the case in systems like Proportional Representation or Majority Voting, where different thresholds or percentages are required for a candidate to be declared victorious.