What is majority runoff voting?

• A. A second-round election is held only if a candidate achieves a majority.
• B. If no candidate achieves a majority, a second round is held between top candidates.
• C. The winner is the one with the most votes in the initial district.
• D. It uses ranked ballots to transfer votes.

Answer: (B)

In majority runoff voting, the goal is to ensure the winner has broad support, not just the most votes. All candidates compete in the first round, and if no candidate obtains a majority of votes, a second-round election is held between the leading candidates—usually the top two. The winner is the candidate who then secures a majority in that runoff, based on ballots cast in that round. This contrasts with a simple plurality system, where the candidate with the most votes in the first round can win even without a majority, and with ranked-ballot systems that transfer preferences rather than triggering a separate runoff.