How e dey work, well well
First round: everybody vote one option. If one pass di threshold (50 % by default for Placet, you fit change am), e don finish.
If not, second round between di top two — na di normal rule. French parliament elections use anoda one: any candidate wey reach 12.5 % of registered voters go qualify, na so three-way runoff dey happen.
For second round, absolute majority sure by arithmetic: with two options, plurality NA majority. Na arithmetic guarantee, no be consensus guarantee.
Example wey get figures
Di same hundred people, dis time for two rounds.
| Option | Round 1 | Round 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Lyon | 40 | 45 |
| Bordeaux | 35 | 55 |
| Lille | 25 | dem comot am |
- Nobody reach 50 %: Lyon and Bordeaux enter second round.
- Lille 25 votes move: 20 go Bordeaux, 5 go Lyon.
- Bordeaux win 55 against 45.
Di runoff correct di first round true true. But see wetin e no do: if Lille be everybody compromise second choice, dem for don comot am for first round, without ever testing am for duel.
Where e come from
Two-round voting na French invention of di 19th century, wey spread under di Third Republic. Di Fifth Republic take am for 1958 for parliament elections, then for 1962 for presidential election by direct vote — dem first use am for 1965.
Di idea na political compromise: keep di clearness of majority voting while dem fix im worst problem, di minority winner. Di runoff force clear choice between two options only.
E spread far pass France: Austria, Portugal, Brazil, Poland, most Latin American presidential elections, and plenty French-speaking association votes.
Where dem dey use am
- French presidential election and plenty other republics.
- French parliament and departmental elections.
- Association and union votes, where absolute majority dey often for di rules.
- Heavy group decisions, when clear mandate matter pass speed.
Limits and wahala
- Di winner pass 50%
- You fit vote your heart for round one
- System wey people sabi
- Two ballots to run
- Di third person fit be betta agreement
- Vote transfer no dey predictable
Questions wey people dey ask
Di runoff dey guarantee real consensus?
No: e dey guarantee absolute majority against ONE particular opponent. If di duel wey dem give no be di correct one — because dem comot di compromise for first round — di majority na arithmetic, no be political.
How candidate fit lose as e dey gain votes?
By changing im runoff opponent. Say you beat A small small but you dey lose to B: small extra votes for first round fit comot A and put B, and cost you di election. Na di monotonicity failure, and dem fit show am plain.
Two rounds or Condorcet?
Condorcet dey test EVERY duel for one single vote, while di runoff dey test only one, wey di first round pick. If your group fit rank di options, Condorcet dey answer di same question more complete.