Final answer:
The electoral system where the person with the most votes wins irrespective of the vote percentage is called a plurality system. This system, also known as first-past-the-post, is common in the United States for elections at the state and national level and is simpler but can limit representation of smaller parties.
Step-by-step explanation:
An election where the winner is the person who receives the most votes, regardless of the percentage of votes received, is called a plurality system. In a plurality or first-past-the-post electoral system, the candidate with the highest number of votes wins, without the need for a majority (over 50 percent). This is contrasted with a majority system, where a candidate must secure a majority of the votes to win, often leading to runoff elections if no candidate achieves this in the initial voting round.
For example, in the 2020 United States Senate race in Minnesota, Democratic candidate Tina Smith won with less than 50 percent of the overall vote, illustrating that a plurality of votes is sufficient in such a system. It is important to note that, while plurality voting simplifies the election process by typically requiring only a single round of voting, it can also limit the representation of smaller parties and lead to winners who do not have the majority support of the electorate.
Plurality systems are the most common in the United States, particularly at the state and national levels for positions such as Congress and the Presidency. Plurality voting is often cited as being simpler and more cost-effective but is also criticized for potentially distorting democratic representation when more than two candidates are viable.