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American Government / Unit 5   Gov 214 short lesson, about 20 seconds

ERROR: "Most Votes Means a Majority"

Captions available

The idea

The claim that winning the most votes means winning a majority is false: a plurality can sit well below half.

In practice

Returns of 48, 46, and 6 percent crown a winner whom 52 percent voted against.

Where people slip

"Most" compares candidates; "majority" compares against half — different tests.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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