Which one of the following features is correct about the 'First Past the Post System' of election ?

The 'First Past the Post' (FPTP) system, also known as the Plurality System, is characterized by the principle that the candidate who secures more votes than any other candidate in a constituency is declared elected [1]. Crucially, the winning candidate does not need to secure a majority (more than 50%) of the total votes cast; they simply need to be ahead of their competitors [2]. This often leads to situations where a party wins a greater share of seats than its actual share of votes [1]. Unlike Proportional Representation (PR), FPTP utilizes single-member constituencies where only one representative is elected per geographical area [2]. In this system, voters typically vote for a specific candidate rather than a party list, and the distribution of seats is not proportional to the total percentage of votes received by a party [3].

Sources

1. [1] Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION > Chapter 3: Election and Representation > p. 57
2. [2] Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION > Chapter 3: Election and Representation > p. 59
3. [3] Indian Constitution at Work, Political Science Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: ELECTION AND REPRESENTATION > Chapter 3: Election and Representation > p. 61