Approval voting ballot

Definition

An approval voting ballot allows voters to select (approve) any number of candidates rather than just one. The candidate with the highest number of approvals wins the election.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Approval voting minimizes the impact of vote splitting and strategic voting.
2. This method can lead to more representative outcomes, as it allows for support of multiple candidates.
3. It is used in various organizations and societies but is less common in governmental elections.
4. Approval voting ballots are simple to understand and easy to count, making them efficient for both voters and election officials.
5. Approval voting does not require a runoff election, as the candidate with the most approvals wins outright.

Review Questions

• How does an approval voting ballot differ from a traditional single-choice ballot?
• What advantage does approval voting have in terms of voter representation?
• Why might approval voting reduce the need for strategic voting?

Related terms

Plurality Voting: A system where each voter selects one candidate, and the candidate with the most votes wins.

Runoff Election: A secondary election held when no candidate meets the required threshold for victory in the initial round.

Ranked-Choice Voting: A system where voters rank candidates by preference, and votes are redistributed until a majority winner is determined.