In voting, a
plurality vote is the largest number of votes to be given any candidate or proposition when three or more choices are possible. The candidate or proposition receiving the largest number of votes has a plurality.
[1] The concept of "plurality" in voting can be contrasted with the concept of "majority". Majority is "more than half".
[2] Combining these two concepts in a sentence makes it clearer, "A plurality of votes is a total vote received by a candidate greater than that received by any opponent but less than a majority of the vote."
[3]For example, take an election where 100 voters choose between candidates A, B and C. A gains 40 votes, B gets 35 and C 25. A has received a plurality of the vote, as he has received more than B or C. However, he has fallen short of a majority, which would require 50 or 51 votes.
The plurality voting system, also known as "first past the post", elects the candidate who is the stated first choice of the largest number of the voters who have cast a valid vote.
The smallest possible plurality is (v+n)/n, rounded up, where v is the number of members of the group (voters) and n is the number of categories (candidates). Thus in a five-candidate plurality election, just over 20 percent of the vote can theoretically win. If n is 2 then the plurality becomes a majority.
