What does the term "first past the post" refer to in electoral systems?

The term "first past the post" refers to an electoral system where the candidate who receives the most votes in a constituency is declared the winner, regardless of whether they achieve an absolute majority (more than 50% of the votes). This system is straightforward and quick in its implementation since the candidate receiving the highest number of votes is simply identified as the winner.

In many contexts, particularly in single-member districts, the focus is on obtaining more votes than any other individual candidate rather than aiming for a majority, which differentiates first past the post from other voting systems that require candidates to secure a majority. In this way, a candidate can win even with a plurality of votes – that is, more votes than others, but potentially less than half of the total. This has implications for how votes are counted and perceived in the overall political landscape.

The other options relate to different electoral concepts, such as the idea of majority approval or proportional representation, which function under different principles than the first past the post system.