In: Economics
What happens when a state uses majority rule and how do run-off elections play into this?
Electoral College - What is winner-take-all as applied to each state's electoral votes?
The majority rule is when the elections are held to decide who all will represent common people in the government and the choice made by largest number of voters wins the election. Deciding by the numbers has always been a more practical way to handle the differences. Hence, this show that every citizen has the right and voice in the ballot box and every vote counts.
Two round runoff elections are now being used by many states and municipalities in US. So in these states amd municipalities, when elections are held the candidate must get at least 50% to win. Now this is easy when there are only two candidates, but when there are three or more candidates, it is possible that no candidate will win with required majority. So second epection is kept between the two candidates who got most votes. This runoff election is done mostly two or three weeks after the first election.
But as noble as this majority requirement is, this use of two round runoff elections has its own disadvantages. Mainly that these elections can be really costly on taxpayers and election holders. Secondly, voter turnout seems to reduce in second election. To reduce these problems, IRV (Instant Runoff Voting) is gaining popularity. Here when the vote is taken, they cast their vote by rankings, like first choice, second choice, third choice. This way its like having two elections but with one vote only.
The Electoral College is a body of electors instituted by the US constitution. This is formed in every four years with the only aim of electing president and vice president of US. These electors are selected by state as per the law of the particular state. After the election of 1824, most of the states are appointing electors winner-take-all basis, which is based on the popular vote of state on election day. Here, voters don't vote for elector, they directly vote for the president and vice president candidates for which electors are pledged. Every state except Maine and Nebraska uses this system.