Election Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. After certified results show that an incumbent lost, the incumbent accepts the outcome and authority passes according to established rules. What democratic principle does this best demonstrate?
Judicial supremacy over every ballot
Permanent rule by the largest party
The cancellation of political opposition
The peaceful transfer of power
2. Party members vote to select who will represent their party in an upcoming general election. What type of contest is this?
A primary election
A recount
A recall election
A referendum
3. A paper ballot contains marks for two candidates even though the instructions say to select only one. If voter intent cannot be determined under the applicable rules, how is it generally classified?
As a proxy ballot
As a provisional registration
As an automatic vote for the leading candidate
As an invalid or spoiled ballot
4. A legislature assigns parties seats broadly in proportion to their shares of the vote. Which electoral approach is being used?
A winner-take-all appointment system
Proportional representation
Hereditary succession
A nonbinding opinion poll
5. Voters are asked to approve or reject a proposed law directly rather than choose between candidates. What is this commonly called?
A party primary
A coalition agreement
A referendum
A legislative appointment
6. A nonpartisan visitor watches polling and counting procedures, documents observations, and does not administer the vote. What role is this person performing?
Campaign manager
Election observer
Opinion poll respondent
Returning candidate
7. A district has 800 registered voters, and 600 cast ballots. What was the voter turnout among registered voters?
60%
70%
75%
80%
8. Candidate A receives 52% of the vote and Candidate B receives 48%. What is Candidate A's margin over Candidate B?
2 percentage points
4% of Candidate A's votes
4 percentage points
52 percentage points
9. Before an election, officials update names and eligibility records used at polling places. What are they maintaining?
The candidate debate schedule
The legislative voting record
The election forecast model
The electoral roll or voter register
10. What distinguishes an absolute majority from a plurality?
An absolute majority is more than half of the votes, while a plurality is simply the largest share
An absolute majority applies only to referendums, while a plurality applies only to candidates
An absolute majority counts registered voters, while a plurality counts only candidates
An absolute majority is the smallest vote share, while a plurality is exactly half
11. What is the central purpose of an election in a representative democracy?
To allow eligible voters to choose representatives or decide public questions
To let courts appoint legislators without public participation
To replace all existing laws at regular intervals
To measure public opinion without producing an official decision
12. In a plurality contest, Candidate A receives 42% of the votes, Candidate B receives 35%, and Candidate C receives 23%. What is the outcome?
Candidate A wins by receiving more votes than any other candidate
Candidates A and B automatically share the office
Candidate B wins because the other votes are divided
No result is possible because every winner needs more than 50%
13. A voter marks a ballot alone, places it in the ballot box, and cannot be required to reveal the choice made. Which principle does this illustrate?
Compulsory voting
The secret ballot
Proportional representation
Open candidate nomination
14. An election requires a majority winner, but no candidate receives more than half the vote. The top candidates compete in a second vote. What is that second vote called?
A census
A recall petition
A party convention endorsement
A runoff election
15. A viral post claims that a polling place has suddenly changed. What is the most reliable first step before acting on the claim?
Assume the post is accurate if it has many shares
Rely on an anonymous comment that confirms it
Check the relevant official election authority or another authoritative source
Wait for a candidate's campaign advertisement to address it
16. District boundaries are deliberately drawn to give one political group an unfair electoral advantage. What is this practice commonly called?
Coalition building
Gerrymandering
Vote canvassing
Ballot rotation