A plurality/majority system used in multi-member districts in which electors have as many votes as there are candidates to be elected. Voting is candidate-centred. The candidates with the highest vote totals win the seats.
What is block vote (BV)?
The term Block Vote (BV) refers to a multi-member plurality system in which voters may cast as many votes as there are seats to fill, typically one vote per candidate. It gives election, security, legal, or technical readers a specific label for the concept rather than a broader everyday meaning.
How does block voting work?
In practice, Block Vote (BV) applies the electoral rule described by the term: a multi-member plurality system in which voters may cast as many votes as there are seats to fill, typically one vote per candidate. Officials use the specified votes, seats, quotas, districts, or thresholds to determine representation.
How is block vote different from proportional representation?
Block vote is a multi-member plurality system in which voters can usually choose as many candidates as there are seats, and the candidates with the highest totals win. Proportional representation instead allocates seats to reflect parties' or groups' shares of the vote. Block voting can therefore produce much less proportional outcomes.
Understand more election terms clearly
Get one important election term explained each week, with authoritative sources, practical context and related definitions.
A plurality/majority system used in multi-member districts in which electors have as many votes as there are candidates to be elected. Voting is candidate-centred. The candidates with the highest vote totals win the seats.
Cite this term
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Block Vote (bv). In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 21, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/block-vote-bv
Sources
01
Single-source
Get the weekly election term
Receive one cited, source-backed election explanation in your inbox each week.