Strategic voting occurs when voters choose a candidate not solely based on their personal preference, but to influence the election outcome. This often happens in systems where multiple candidates compete, and voters may select a less preferred candidate who has a better chance of winning over a candidate they prefer but believe is unlikely to succeed. This tactic is commonly seen in elections with first-past-the-post systems, where the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of whether they achieve a majority. Voters may feel compelled to support a leading candidate to prevent an undesirable candidate from winning, rather than voting for their true favorite.