Primary definition
The simplest form of plurality/majority electoral system, using single-member districts and candidate-centred voting. The winning candidate is the one who gains more votes than any other candidate, even if this is not an absolute majority of valid votes.
Also known asFPTP · winner-takes-all · plurality voting · single-member plurality · SMP · relative majority · simple majority
1 sources cited4 related termsReviewed Aug 9, 2026
— ACE Electoral Systems GlossaryView source
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ACE
The simplest form of plurality/majority electoral system, using single-member districts and candidate-centred voting. The winning candidate is the one who gains more votes than any other candidate, even if this is not an absolute majority of valid votes.
ACE Electoral Systems Glossary · 2024
Cite this term
Permanent URL · stable across revisions
Election Security Glossary. (2026). First Past The Post (fptp). In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 22, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/first-past-the-post-fptp
Sources
1 cited · last checked Aug 9, 2026
01
ACE Electoral Systems Glossary
ACE Electoral Systems Glossary
Single-source
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