Explain a two-round system and give an example where it is used. In a two-round system, if no candidate achieves a required majority in the first round, what happens?

• A. Votes are invalidated.
• B. The candidate with the most votes wins.
• C. The election is canceled.
• D. A runoff is held between top finishers.

Answer: (D)

A two-round system ensures the winner has broad support by requiring a majority, and if no candidate clears that threshold in the first round, a runoff is held between the top finishers. In the first round, many candidates can compete, but if no one gets more than the required majority (typically over 50%), the race moves to a second round where only the leading candidates compete and the winner is decided by a majority then. An example is France’s presidential elections: if no candidate earns over half the votes in the first round, the top two candidates face each other in a runoff a couple weeks later, and the winner of that runoff becomes president. This setup prevents a winner who has only plurality support and ensures the final choice reflects broader voter backing.