Nonpermanent members of the United Nations Security Council are elected based on which voting principle?

The correct answer is that nonpermanent members of the United Nations Security Council are elected based on a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly. This voting principle emphasizes the requirement for broad support among the UN member states to ensure that the selected nonpermanent members reflect a significant consensus.

This process not only aims to maintain a balance of representation among different world regions but also serves to reinforce the legitimacy of the elected members by ensuring they have substantial backing from the wider membership of the General Assembly. The two-thirds majority demonstrates a strong commitment from member states, making it more likely that the elected representatives can effectively contribute to security discussions and decision-making.

In contrast, the other options involve either insufficient majority thresholds or procedures that do not apply to the election of nonpermanent members. For instance, a simple majority does not provide the level of consensus necessary for such important roles, while the requirement for a 9/15 majority pertains to the Security Council's decision-making process and not the election of its members. Unanimous voting is impractical and rarely achievable, making it unsuitable for electing nonpermanent members.