[EM] Re: plurality, FPTP and runoff voting

[Rob Brown]

James Green-Armytage <jarmyta <at> antioch-college.edu> writes:

> I like this definition of
> "plurality" from Merriam-Webster:
> "an amount or group (as of votes) that is greater than any other amount or
> group within a total but that is not more than half".

But that does not specifically describe an election method.  And the 
phrase "but that is not more than half" would be incorrect.  It should 
say "but that is not *necessarily* more than half" it it were to apply to the 
plurality election method.

BTW, I never understood where the term "first past the post" comes from.  It 
doesn't seem very descriptive.  Anyone have any insight into this?

-rob