Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Electoral competition refers to the level of competitiveness among political parties or candidates in an election. It measures the extent to which different parties or candidates have a fair chance of winning and being elected by voters.
Related terms
Multi-party system: A political system where several major political parties compete for power and representation.
Incumbency advantage: The advantage that sitting officeholders have in elections due to name recognition, resources, and experience.
Proportional representation: An electoral system where seats in parliament or other legislative bodies are allocated based on the proportion of votes received by each party.