Duverger’s law

Definition

Duverger's Law suggests that a country with a single-member district plurality voting system tends to develop a two-party system. This occurs because voters strategically choose among candidates, leading to the dominance of two major political parties over time.

Related terms

Plurality Voting System: A voting format in which the candidate who receives the most votes wins, regardless of whether they achieve an absolute majority.

Single: Member District - An electoral district that elects one representative to a legislative body.

Strategic Voting: The practice of voting for a candidate not because they are the voter’s first choice, but to prevent an undesired candidate from winning