Glossary

Runoff election

A second election between the top finishers when no candidate wins the required share, usually a majority, in the first round.

Also called: runoff, second round, runoff vote

A runoff election is a follow-up contest held when no candidate gets the required threshold, usually more than 50 percent, in the initial election. The top two finishers, or sometimes more, face off in a second round, typically a few weeks later.

Several states, especially in the South, use runoffs in primaries, and Georgia and Louisiana have used them in general elections for some offices. Georgia's runoff requirement drew national attention in the January 2021 U.S. Senate elections. Georgia law has since shortened the runoff period. Outside the U.S., runoffs are common for electing presidents, as in France.

Supporters say runoffs ensure winners have majority backing. Critics say they favor the top vote-getter in the first round by giving the same people another chance, cause voter fatigue, cost more and bring lower turnout. They are an alternative to ranked-choice voting, which achieves a similar goal in one round, and the top-two primary. Runoffs may also be used to settle ties in a midterm election or other races, depending on state law.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Ranked-choice voting A voting method in which voters rank candidates, and the lowest finishers are eliminated until one has a majority. Top-two primary A primary in which all candidates appear on one ballot and the two with the most votes, regardless of party, advance to the general election. Open primary A primary election in which voters need not belong to a party to choose which party's ballot they use. Midterm election The general election held midway through a president's four-year term, in which all House seats and about a third of Senate seats are contested.