Should there be a runoff just because nobody got the majority of the votes?

[LiberalFighter]

Could the runoff be avoided if the person with the most votes has at least 40 or 45% of the votes?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. It would have to be set up that way by whatever jurisdiction is having the election.

They can't just do it after the fact unless that's the designated procedure. Some cities (like mine) have ranked-choice voting, which works like this:

You can choose to rank up to three candidates for all offices on the ballot. Your ballot will have three columns. In each office, you complete the ballot from left to right, indicating your first choice for each race in the first column. You then have the option to rank second and third choices in each office. Your second choice would only be counted if your first choice did not receive enough votes to continue on to the next round of counting, so ranking a second or third choice does not hurt your first choice candidate. Your ballot will be counted whether you choose to rank one, two, or three candidates in any offices.

This works pretty well for municipal elections but might be too complicated on a larger scale.

[beachbum bob]

2. Up to each state. Some have that, most don't and one has weighted

system

[sandensea]

3. Perhaps they should.

That, for instance, is how presidential runoffs are calculated in Argentina: 45% to win outright, and 40% if your margin is at least 10%.

Helps avoid the unnecessary drama and expense of a second round (most of the time).

[LiberalFighter]

8. Something to consider

[sandensea]

9. Getting back to the mid-terms, how do you think Cheeto will react tomorrow night?

My guess is that it could be anything from an all-caps Tweetstorm to an ouright martial law declaration (Continuity of Government).

I'm exaggerating of course - but not by all that much. I frankly wouldn't put anything past Twitler.

[Xipe Totec]

4. That's how we ended up with Trump nt

[sandensea]

7. True.

Above all, we need to rescind the electoral college.

Unfortunately, that's next to impossible.

[ProudLib72]

10. It was planned down to the tens of voters in each district

And that right there should tell us something is wrong. When the strategists know how to create a win out of losing the popular vote by 3 million, it should send a clear signal that our system needs an overhaul.

[MattP]

5. Haven't we lost a couple elections because of these runoff states?

I think one primary and one election is good but if we had a Presidential runoff just imagine

[RockRaven]

6. Another way to avoid run-offs is to have a "jungle primary."

That way there are only 2 candidates in the general election.