A runoff election is a type of election that occurs when no candidate receives an outright majority of votes in the first round. In such cases, the two candidates with the highest number of votes move on to face each other in a second round or runoff election. This process continues until one candidate emerges as the winner with more than 50% of the vote. Runoff elections are commonly used in single-member district systems and are also known as a primary runoff, special election, or a general election when held separately from the initial contest.