An absolute majority is a term used in politics to describe a situation where a party or a candidate wins more than half of the total votes cast in an election. This means that they have more support than all the other parties or candidates combined. An absolute majority is also known as a simple majority or a majority.

An absolute majority can have significant implications for the political system and the governance of a country. Depending on the electoral rules and the constitution, an absolute majority can enable a party or a candidate to form a government without needing to form a coalition or seek support from other parties. This can give them more power and influence over the legislative agenda and the policy-making process. Alternatively, an absolute majority can also make it easier for the opposition to hold the government accountable and challenge its decisions, as they can unite against a single party or candidate.

Some examples of countries that use an absolute majority system are France, India, and the United Kingdom. In France, the president is elected by an absolute majority in a two-round system. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the votes in the first round, a second round is held between the top two candidates. In India, the prime minister is chosen by the party or coalition that wins an absolute majority of seats in the lower house of parliament. In the United Kingdom, the prime minister is usually the leader of the party that wins an absolute majority of seats in the House of Commons.

An absolute majority is not always easy to achieve or maintain, especially in countries with multiple parties or candidates competing for votes. Sometimes, no party or candidate can win an absolute majority, resulting in a hung parliament or a divided government. This can lead to political instability, uncertainty, and deadlock, as parties or candidates have to negotiate and compromise to form a government or pass legislation. Some examples of countries that have experienced this situation are Australia, Canada, and Germany.

An absolute majority is one of the possible outcomes of an election, and it can have advantages and disadvantages for the political system and the governance of a country. It can reflect the will of the majority of voters and provide a clear mandate for a party or a candidate to govern. However, it can also exclude or marginalize minority voices and interests, and create a concentration of power that can be abused or misused. Therefore, it is important for voters to be informed and engaged in the electoral process and to hold their representatives accountable for their actions.

Different electoral systems have different rules and methods for determining the winner of an election and the distribution of seats in a legislature. These rules and methods can affect the likelihood and the difficulty of achieving an absolute majority for a party or a candidate. Some of the most common electoral systems are:

• First-past-the-post (FPTP): This is a system where voters cast a single vote for a candidate in a single-member district. The candidate with the most votes wins the seat, regardless of whether they have an absolute majority or not. This system tends to favor larger parties and candidates with broad appeal, as they can win seats with a plurality of votes. However, it can also result in wasted votes, disproportionality, and underrepresentation of smaller parties and candidates.
• Proportional representation (PR): This is a system where voters cast a single vote for a party or a candidate in a multi-member district. The seats are allocated according to the proportion of votes each party or candidate receives, usually with a minimum threshold. This system tends to favor smaller parties and candidates with niche appeal, as they can win seats with a fraction of votes. However, it can also result in fragmentation, coalition-building, and overrepresentation of larger parties and candidates.
• Mixed-member proportional (MMP): This is a system where voters cast two votes: one for a candidate in a single-member district and one for a party in a multi-member district. The seats are allocated according to the proportion of votes each party receives, with some adjustments to ensure overall proportionality. This system tends to balance the advantages and disadvantages of FPTP and PR, as it combines both elements. However, it can also result in complexity, confusion, and inconsistency among voters and parties.

To achieve an absolute majority in different electoral systems, parties and candidates have to adopt different strategies and tactics. For example, in FPTP, they have to appeal to the median voter and target swing districts. In PR, they have to form alliances and coalitions with other parties and candidates. In MMP, they have to balance their constituency and party interests and preferences.