Uninominal voting (also called single-member voting) is an electoral system in which each voter chooses only one person among several candidates. Unlike list-based voting, where voters support an entire list, here each vote is cast for an individual candidate.
This system is widely used in professional elections (works councils, bar elections, mutual societies, boards of directors) as well as in certain university elections.
How does uninominal voting work?
The voter selects a single candidate. The person who receives the most votes is elected.
There are two main variants:
1. First-past-the-post (one-round uninominal majority voting)The candidate who comes first is elected after a single round, even if they do not obtain an absolute majority of the votes. This is the simplest and fastest system.
2. Two-round uninominal majority votingIf no candidate obtains an absolute majority in the first round, a second round is organised (usually between the top two candidates). The candidate with the most votes in the second round is elected.
When is uninominal voting used?
This voting method is particularly suitable when electing one person to a specific position, for example:
- Election of the bâtonnier (bar president)
- Election of representatives to a works council (CSE) in certain colleges
- University elections (certain seats)
- Mutual society elections
- Election of board members
It is also used in political life (for example, in French legislative or presidential elections).
Advantages of uninominal voting
- Simplicity: the voter only has one choice to make.
- Clarity: the link between the voter and the elected person is direct.
- Speed: especially in the one-round version.
- Personalisation: each candidate can present their profile, manifesto or CV individually.
Limitations to be aware of
- It can favour better-known candidates at the expense of less visible profiles.
- In the one-round version, a candidate can be elected with only a minority of the votes.
- It is less suitable when several people need to be elected to represent different opinions (in that case, proportional list voting is often preferred).
Uninominal voting and electronic voting
Today, many organisations hold their uninominal elections online. Electronic voting makes it possible to:
- Facilitate participation (especially for remote voters)
- Guarantee the anonymity and security of the ballot
- Automate the counting of votes
- Give each candidate a dedicated space to present their candidacy
Whether held in person, by post or online, uninominal voting remains a simple, direct and widely used method whenever a single person needs to be elected to a specific position.
