FPTP means the first candidate to achieve an absolute majority (50% of the vote + 1, the "post" in the "race") wins a given seat.
If absolute majority is not attained, the two front-runners have a followup run-off election.
So when 3 people run, and they get 20%, 35%, and 45% respectively, the 35% and 45% candidates go again without the 20% candidate pulling away votes.
Contrast with a system of Proportional Representation (used in Germany
, Israel), wherein the number of seats available are allotted based upon a parties' relative success. So if there are 100 seats up for election, party A gets 20 seats to fill when their candidates win 20% of the vote.
I don't have first-hand experience with the PR system, so I might be slightly off, but it works generally like that.
Last edited by iamnotawerewolf; 02-21-2018 at 01:17 PM.
Reason: not France...