What is the purpose of a runoff election?

A runoff election is a second round of voting that takes place when no single candidate has received a majority of the votes in the initial election. In Washington, the purpose of a runoff election is to determine which candidate will ultimately be chosen to serve in an office or on a ballot measure. In some cases, the top two finishers in the initial election will advance to the runoff election, while in others, only the top finisher will be allowed to proceed. The purpose of a runoff election is to make sure that the candidate who ultimately wins has been selected by a majority of the voters. This is important because it prevents a situation in which the winning candidate is not preferred by the majority of voters, but simply receives the most votes by a slim margin. By making sure that the winning candidate has the support of the majority of voters, a runoff election helps ensure that the desires of the people are represented in their government. In addition to giving the majority of voters a say, runoff elections can also help make elections more competitive by allowing a large field of candidates to narrow down to two finalists. This can help give the two finalists more time to create a stronger platform and make a stronger case for their candidacy. Overall, the purpose of a runoff election in Washington is to encourage majority rule, ensure that the desires of the majority of people are adequately represented, and ensure that elections remain competitive.

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What is the purpose of a runoff election?

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