What is a “supermajority” in an election?

A supermajority is a special threshold that must be met in order for a certain action to be carried out. In an election, a supermajority is a defined majority of votes that is larger than would typically be required in order for a candidate or party to win. In Minnesota, state law requires a supermajority in order for a constitutional amendment proposal to be put to the voters. State law requires an approval of 60% or more of the total votes cast in order for a constitutional amendment proposal to pass. This is an example of a supermajority. In addition, a supermajority can also refer to a specific majority additional requirement among legislators. For example, in Minnesota in order for a bill to pass, the bill must receive a majority of votes in both state chambers (the House and Senate) and then must receive 60% or more votes to pass. In essence, a supermajority requirement is a way to ensure that decisions require a higher level of consensus or agreement in order to be approved. It requires that a specific threshold is met before an outcome can be gained. While the use of a supermajority might sometimes slow down the process, it can also be beneficial as it helps ensure that any major changes made have a greater level of approval which can result in more carefully crafted and thought out decisions.

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What is a “supermajority” in an election?

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