Legal Definitions - majority voting

Majority voting is a decision-making system where a candidate or proposal wins if it receives more than half of the votes cast. This means that to be successful, an option must secure at least 50% plus one additional vote from the total number of votes submitted.

Here are some examples illustrating majority voting:

• Example 1: City Council Election

  Imagine a city holding an election for a new city council member. There are four candidates running for the single open seat. According to the city's electoral rules, the candidate who receives more than half of the total votes cast will win the election outright in the first round.

  This illustrates majority voting because the winning candidate must secure at least 50% plus one vote of all ballots submitted to be declared the victor, ensuring they have the support of the greater part of the electorate.

• Example 2: Corporate Shareholder Resolution

  During an annual general meeting, the shareholders of a publicly traded company are asked to vote on a proposal to amend the company's bylaws. For the amendment to pass, the company's charter requires that it receive a majority of the votes cast by shareholders present or represented by proxy.

  Here, majority voting means that the proposed bylaw change will only be adopted if more than half of the shares voted are cast in favor of the resolution, reflecting the will of the majority of participating shareholders.

• Example 3: School Board Decision

  A local school board, consisting of seven members, is voting on whether to approve a new curriculum for high school science classes. For the new curriculum to be implemented, it must receive a majority vote from the board members.

  This demonstrates majority voting because at least four of the seven board members (more than half) must vote in favor of the curriculum for it to be approved and move forward, ensuring that the decision has the support of the majority of the board.