Two-Round System
An electoral system in which a second round of voting is held between the top candidates if no candidate wins an outright majority in the first round.
Explanation
The two-round system (or runoff system) ensures that the winner has the support of a majority of voters. If no candidate wins 50%+1 in the first round, the top two (or sometimes more) candidates proceed to a second round. France uses this for both presidential and legislative elections. The second round creates strategic incentives — voters who backed eliminated candidates must choose between the remaining options, and parties often negotiate between rounds to consolidate support. Critics note that the two-round system still disadvantages smaller parties compared to proportional representation.
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