0
How do states deal with the situation in which no primary candidate wins a majority of votes?
This depends on the state in question (meaning, are you talking about US States, or actual other nations?)
Presuming the question refers to the Primary elections of U.S. Presidential candidates, the answer is that it is NOT up to the states. Primary elections are party-specific; that is, while the state runs the election, the results are up to the party to determine.
Both the Republican and Democratic party in the U.S. do proportional allocation of delegates in primaries. That is, the two major parties set a fixed number of delegates to their national convention, and then allocate a certain number to each state (plus what are called "superdelegates", which are effectively national-party selected). The percentage results of a given candidate net that candidate the same percentage of delegates allocated to that state.
Thus, let us say that the Republican Party has 1000 total delegates. 900 are divided amongst the states (usually by something approximating relative population amounts), so let's say California gets 80 and Delaware gets 10. If Candidates A, B, and C get 40%, 40%, and 20% (respectively) of the vote in CA, they would then get 32, 32, and 16 delegates. If they got 30%, 30%, and 40% (respectively) in DE, they would then get 3, 3, and 4 more delegates.
If the election in question is not for President, but for a state-specific post (including US Senators and Representatives), most parties declare the winner to be the one with absolute most votes, even if it wasn't a majority (i.e. 50% + 1 vote). US elections very, very rarely use a runoff format. And, once again, U.S. Primary election results are for the Party to determine how to interpret. Legally, there is nothing to prevent a Party from nominating a person who received fewer votes than other opponents. Party politics are solely internal.
Still curious? Ask our experts.
Chat with our AI personalities
Ezra
Maxine
CoachAdd your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What happens if no candidate receives a majority of votes in the primary election?
If no candidate receives a majority of votes in a primary election, a runoff election may be held between the top two candidates with the highest number of votes. This is to ensure that the winning candidate ultimately has majority support. Runoff elections are common in many states and are typically held a few weeks after the initial primary election. The candidate who receives the most votes in the runoff election is declared the winner.
What determines how a candidate is chosen when no candidate wins a majority of votes in a primary election?
The primary elections are for delegates to the National nomination convention. Not all states have them and the way in which they select delegates varies. Sometimes the delegation is divided in proportion to the vote, sometimes the one with the most votes get all of the delegates. Sometimes the primaries are only advisory information for the delegates. If no candidate has a majority of the bound and committed delegates by convention time, delegates are all free after the first ballot to vote as they choose. Ballots are taken and deals are made and delegates switch votes until finally one candidate has a majority.
What type of primary can voters choose a candidate from either party?
closed primary
A political party's presidential candidate is selected by .?
By caucus of members of a political party, by state party conventions, or by primary elections, or by all of the above in some states.
What is the number of electors required to win the presidency in the United States?
The number of electors required to win the presidency in the United States is 270 (as of 2014). The candidate has to receive the absolute majority of the votes.
