Final answer:
The First Past the Post system declares a winner based on plurality, often leading to potential misrepresentation, tactical voting, and a two-party system. It is prevalent in the United States, influencing both congressional elections and the Electoral College, where the winner in most states takes all the electoral votes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The First Past the Post electoral system declares the candidate who has more votes than any other candidate in their constituency as the winner. This means a candidate can win with a plurality of votes rather than an outright majority. Several problems are associated with the First Past the Post system. In elections, especially notable in the United States, this might lead to a lack of representation for minority opinions, the potential for tactical voting, and the possibility of a candidate winning who does not have the majority support of the voters.
For example, in a constituency with three candidates where candidate A receives 40% of votes, candidate B 35%, and candidate C 25%, candidate A would win even though 60% of voters preferred another candidate. This system can also discourage voters if they feel their preferred candidate has little chance of winning, potentially leading to lower voter turnout. Furthermore, this system can produce a 'winner-take-all' outcome, where only the winning party's policies are pursued, and can encourage the formation of a two-party system, where smaller parties rarely gain seats even if they have significant popular support.
Additionally, in the U.S., the Electoral College adds another layer to the process, where the winner of a state's popular vote typically takes all of that state's electoral votes, except in Nebraska and Maine, where electoral votes can be divided among candidates based on congressional district victories.