Democratic Process I
Civic Education J.S.S 3 Third term
WEEK 1
Democratic Process I
Performance Objectives
Student should be able to:
1. Explain the meaning of voting 2. List the types of voting
3. Explain the types of voting
Content
1. Meaning of voting
2. Types of voting
Meaning of Voting
Voting is a formal expression of opinion or choice, either positive or negative, made by an individual or body of individuals. It is the action or process of indicating choice, opinion, or will on a question, such as the choosing of a candidate, by or as if by some recognized means, such as a ballot. Voting cause (someone) to gain or lose a particular post or honour by means of a vote.
Types of Voting
Plurality Voting
Plurality voting is a system in which the candidate(s) with the highest number of votes wins, with no requirement to get a majority of votes. In cases where there is a single position to be filled, it is known as first-past-the-post; this is the second most common electoral system for national legislatures, with 58 countries using it to elect their legislatures, the vast majority of which are current or former British or American colonies or territories. It is also the second most common system used for presidential elections, being used in 19 countries.
Majoritarian Voting
Majoritarian voting is a system in which candidates have to receive a majority of the votes to be elected, although in some cases only a plurality is required in the last round of counting if no candidate can achieve a majority.
Proportional Representation Systems
These voting systems are used by most other advanced Western democracies and are designed to ensure that parties are represented proportionally (according to the share of the vote they win) in the legislature. They include party list systems, mixed-member proportional, and the single transferable vote.
Semi-Proportional Systems
These systems are used in some local elections in the United States. They tend to produce more proportional results than plurality/majority systems, but less proportional results than fully proportional systems. They include cumulative voting and limited voting.