Mechanical and psychological effects of voting systems (3)
- The spoiler effect is the effect of vote splitting between candidates or ballot questions with similar ideologies. One spoiler candidate’s presence in the election draws votes from a major candidate with similar politics thereby causing a strong opponent of both or several to win. The minor candidate causing this effect is referred to as a spoiler.
- In plurality voting if two similar candidates split a majority of the vote, in a plurality election, a candidate strongly opposed by a majority of the voters can be elected. This violates the important criteria of majority rule.