Editing Plurality voting (section)

=== Arguments for plurality ===
==== Simplicity and familiarity ====
Plurality voting is generally considered one of the simplest methods and of the most widely known.<ref name="Plurality Electoral Systems —"/> Because of its widespread use, in situations where people become voters, it will not be a new concept for most and may even be expected. Other systems may specifically need to be explained to the voters and may be perceived as more complicated.

Widespread familiarity with the system does not imply widespread familiarity with the effects. Voters may not be aware of the issues in plurality voting, therefore they may vote sincerely even in situations where voting theory would suggest they should vote tactically, thereby voting against their rational interests.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}

Another counter-argument is that plurality voting is partially considered simple because of its familiarity, which in turn results from its prevalence. Such argument is made by proponents of another plurality-based system, approval voting, where unlike usual plurality voting, voters may vote for any number of candidates. If approval voting is default, plurality voting (where voters only cast one otherwise fixed number of votes) would be seen at least equally unfamiliar to voters.

==== Ease of balloting ====
Under plurality voting, ballots use simple marks instead of ranking or scoring, which can make especially paper-based ballots simpler.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-03 |title=Election - Plurality, Majority, Systems {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/election-political-science/Plurality-and-majority-systems |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> However, non-plurality systems such as [[closed list]] PR may also use just as simple ballots.

In cases without ballots, such as open voting by raised hands, for example, there are simpler methods that do not require checking for people who voted more than they are allowed to, for example, [[approval voting]].

==== Ease of counting ====
With plurality voting, counting and summing up votes is generally an easy process, and this may be done on a precinct level and then summed up for a total with the same results. Some alternative methods, such as [[Instant-runoff voting|instant-runoff-voting]] do not work this way and either counting has to take place centrally, or complete (non-aggregated) results from precincts need to be submitted to the central authority for results.

==== Arguments for single-member plurality ====
{{Further|First-past-the-post voting}}
Common arguments for specifically the single-winner variant of plurality voting are constituency representation (which all other single-winner systems provide to the same degree) and governmental stability (which is dependent on other factors as well).<ref name="Plurality Electoral Systems —"/> These arguments can be made for some multi-member versions and plurality voting in general too.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Single member and multi member districts — |url=https://aceproject.org/electoral-advice/archive/questions/replies/577511787 |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=aceproject.org}}</ref>