How Plurality Voting Works

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Objective

I can explain how plurality voting works.

Part 1 of 4

Warm-up video

TED-Ed · 5:33Vetted channel

We don't generate video — this one is by TED-Ed on YouTube. The practice questions and exit ticket below were drafted by AI for this objective, and every question is editable in the teacher guide.

Part 2 of 4

Key concepts

3 concepts

  1. 1

    The most straightforward voting system is plurality voting, where each individual casts a single ballot and the option with the most votes wins.

  2. 2

    Plurality voting is also known as 'first past the post' and determines the winner by selecting the option with the most votes.

  3. 3

    In plurality voting, the option with the most votes wins, even if a majority of colonists might consider it the worst result.

Part 3 of 4

Practice

3 questions

1

Describe how a winner is determined in an election that uses plurality voting, also known as 'first past the post'.

2

Imagine a town is voting on where to build a new community center. Option A receives 45 votes, Option B receives 30 votes, and Option C receives 25 votes. If the town uses plurality voting, which option will be chosen for the community center and why?

Part 4 of 4

Exit ticket

Quick comprehension check

Based on the video, explain how plurality voting works and identify which Martian base would win the space port vote using this method.

Sample answer included in the free materials

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Teacher guide, student handout, and slides — free, in Google Docs format

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