{"id":351466,"date":"2022-09-16T10:33:07","date_gmt":"2022-09-16T15:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/voting\/how-u-s-elections-work\/what-is-ranked-choice-voting-0.html"},"modified":"2024-02-14T11:07:50","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T16:07:50","slug":"what-is-ranked-choice-voting-0","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/voting\/how-u-s-elections-work\/what-is-ranked-choice-voting-0.html","title":{"rendered":"What Is Ranked-Choice Voting?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Is Ranked-Choice Voting?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lyle Therese A. Hilotin-Lee, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/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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Ranked-choice voting, also known as instant-runoff voting, is now available in some locations in the United States. Here’s how it works.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

Ranked-choice voting is gaining more attention since the controversial 2020 U.S. elections. Supporters believe ranking candidates by preference ensures that the candidate with the broadest popular support wins. Detractors say ranked-choice voting can produce a winner that most voters would not have picked in a face-to-face election.<\/p>\r\n

Ranked-choice voting (RCV), or instant runoff voting<\/a>, is a voting system in which voters rank candidates on their ballots.<\/p>\r\n

How Does Ranked-Choice Voting Work?<\/h2>\r\n

When you fill out a ballot on election day, you will get a list of the candidates running for a particular office. You rank the candidates according to your preference (write-in candidates<\/a> are still allowed). So, instead of picking only one candidate, you will rank up to five candidates in the order of your preference. Then, election officials count all votes, including absentee ballots. The candidate with the majority of the votes becomes the winner.<\/p>\r\n

When no candidate secures a majority in the first round of tabulation, the process eliminates the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes. The system then reassigns that candidate’s votes to the voters’ second choice, focusing on the remaining candidates. Election officials then calculate a new tally to see if any candidate has won most of the adjusted votes.<\/p>\r\n

If no one wins a majority, officials repeat the process until one candidate wins a majority. That candidate, being the highest ranked, is the winner \u2014 no need for runoff elections.<\/p>\r\n

Pros and Cons of Ranked-Choice Voting<\/h2>\r\n

Supporters of ranked-choice voting methods argue:<\/p>\r\n