Two-Round System

The Two-Round System is simply two rounds of First Past the Post voting, where the top two candidates from the first round run head to head in the second round. In most implementations, if a candidate wins a majority of the first round, then they are declared the winner, and then there is no second round. The Two-Round System is highly popular for presidential elections, and far less popular for legislative bodies.

Like First Past the Post voting, the Two-Round System offers nothing to minority voters. In some countries, a candidate can win the first round with even less than a majority.

Quick Notes

  • If no candidate meets the quota in the first round, then the top two candidates go head to head in the second round.

  • In each round, voters must select only a single candidate.

Video Summary

This video from Financial Times explains how France's two-round system elections work. Other countries may have different implementations.

National Elections

Asia

Afghanistan

  • President

Bahrain

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East Timor (Timor Leste)

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Georgia

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Indonesia

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Iran

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* Georgia

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