What constitutes a majority vote?

A majority vote is defined as more than half of the votes cast, excluding blanks and abstentions. This means that in any voting scenario, to achieve a majority, a proposal or candidate must receive a number of votes that exceeds the total of half the valid votes. The rationale behind this definition is to ensure that the decision reflects the choice of the majority of those who actively participated in the voting process, while not counting those who chose not to express a vote through blank ballots or abstentions.

In terms of practical application, this concept is vital in various decision-making bodies, such as municipal councils, to ensure that the decisions made represent the will of most participants. For example, in a vote with 100 total participants where 10 abstain and 5 submit blank votes, a total of 85 votes are considered valid. Therefore, a minimum of 43 votes (which is more than half of 85) would be necessary to achieve majority approval.

The other options do not correctly capture the definition of a majority vote. Simply having the highest number of votes received does not guarantee a majority if the total vote count is low, while a simple yes or no outcome does not define majority dynamics in comprehensive voting contexts. Additionally, an equal distribution of votes