{"id":351462,"date":"2020-03-17T09:36:44","date_gmt":"2020-03-17T14:36:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/voting\/how-u-s-elections-work\/what-is-a-runoff-election.html"},"modified":"2024-04-23T09:42:51","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T14:42:51","slug":"what-is-a-runoff-election","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/voting\/how-u-s-elections-work\/what-is-a-runoff-election.html","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Runoff Election?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Is a Runoff Election?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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A runoff election is a second election officials hold if the candidate with the most votes fails to get the minimum percentage of votes state law requires.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

A runoff election is most common in primary elections, where voters choose the candidates to run for a particular political party. But runoff elections can also happen during general elections.<\/p>\r\n

This article will discuss why a runoff election might happen, what voters will see on the ballot, and how runoff elections vary from state to state.<\/p>\r\n

Why Would We Need a Runoff Election?<\/h2>\r\n

A runoff election aims to ensure that a winning candidate meets the mandatory threshold of votes, usually 50% or more. The actual threshold varies by state and by office.<\/p>\r\n

For example, imagine five candidates running for a particular office. None of them gets the required 30% of the votes. A runoff election would then take place between the top two vote-getting candidates. The candidate who gets the most votes in the runoff election wins.<\/p>\r\n

A runoff election ballot only has the names of the two top vote-getters. Candidates who came in third place and beyond will not appear on the runoff ballot. People who voted for the bottom-dwelling candidates would then have to choose between the two candidates on the new ballot.<\/p>\r\n

A voter may go to the polling place on election day, vote, and then have to return for the runoff election. Some voters won’t want to appear a second time, which could hurt voter turnout and skew the final results of the runoff election.<\/p>\r\n

People who may have chosen the final two candidates as their second or third-choice winners might not take part in the runoff election. This means the candidate with the most votes in the initial election may not win the runoff election.<\/p>\r\n

When Does a Runoff Election Take Place?<\/h2>\r\n

Each state that allows runoff voting determines the date for these elections. The second election can happen two to nine weeks following the first primary election.<\/p>\r\n

Technically, this doesn’t violate citizens’ voting rights. Voters have every right to take part in the runoff election. If they choose not to, that is their prerogative.<\/p>\r\n

What Is Instant Runoff Voting?<\/h2>\r\n

Instant runoff voting<\/a> is a voting method that allows voters to rank their candidates by order of preference.<\/p>\r\n

Election officials may use instant runoff elections for the following:<\/p>\r\n