Ranked Choice Voting

Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is a electoral system in which voters rank candidates in order of preference. This system is also known as Instant-Runoff Voting (IRV) or Alternative Vote (AV). RCV is used in various forms around the world, including in cities and countries such as San Francisco, California, and Australia. The system is designed to provide a more nuanced and representative outcome than traditional plurality voting systems, where the candidate with the most votes wins.

How Ranked Choice Voting Works

In an RCV election, voters are presented with a list of candidates and are asked to rank them in order of preference, typically using numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.). The voter’s first choice is their top preference, their second choice is their next preference, and so on. The voting process is as follows: the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the remaining candidates based on the next preference listed on each ballot. This process continues until a candidate reaches a certain threshold, usually a majority of the votes (50% + 1), at which point they are declared the winner.

Benefits of Ranked Choice Voting

RCV has several benefits, including reducing the spoiler effect, where a candidate’s presence in the election can split the vote and cause another candidate to win. RCV also encourages civil campaigns, as candidates are incentivized to appeal to a broad range of voters in order to receive second- and third-choice votes. Additionally, RCV can lead to more representative outcomes, as the winner is required to have a broad base of support rather than simply being the most popular candidate among a subset of voters.

Challenges and Controversies Surrounding Ranked Choice Voting

Despite its benefits, RCV has faced challenges and controversies in its implementation. Some critics argue that the system is too complex and can be difficult for voters to understand, particularly in jurisdictions with limited resources for voter education. Others argue that RCV can lead to unintended consequences, such as the election of a candidate who is not the most popular among voters, but rather the most strategic in terms of receiving second- and third-choice votes.

Examples of Ranked Choice Voting in Action

RCV has been used in a number of high-profile elections, including the 2018 mayoral election in London, Ontario, and the 2020 Democratic presidential primary in Alaska. In the London mayoral election, the RCV system led to the election of a candidate who was not the top choice among voters, but rather the second choice among a broad range of voters. In the Alaska primary, the RCV system was used to allocate delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

• London, Ontario mayoral election (2018): 45% of voters ranked the winning candidate as their first choice, while 55% ranked them as their second or third choice.
• Alaska Democratic primary (2020): 62% of voters participated in the RCV process, with 75% of voters ranking at least two candidates.