This bill matters because it proposes a fundamental shift in how federal elections are decided, moving away from the traditional 'plurality wins' system to one where a candidate must achieve a majority of votes to win. If passed, it could change election outcomes by ensuring elected officials have broader support, potentially reducing the impact of 'spoiler' candidates and encouraging more civil campaigns, as candidates might avoid negative attacks to secure second or third rankings from voters.

If this bill becomes law, voters would no longer face separate runoff elections for federal positions, simplifying the election calendar. Without it, states would continue to use their current voting methods, which often lead to winners who don't have majority support or require costly and time-consuming runoff elections to determine a clear victor. This change could also influence the types of candidates who succeed, potentially favoring those who can build wider appeal across different voter groups.