What Is a Runoff Election?

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.

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.

Why Would We Need a Runoff Election?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

When Does a Runoff Election Take Place?

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.

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.

What Is Instant Runoff Voting?

Instant runoff voting is a voting method that allows voters to rank their candidates by order of preference.

Election officials may use instant runoff elections for the following:

• Single-candidate offices
• Democratic or Republican primary elections
• Elections where voters must choose more than one candidate. (i.e., multiple school board members, town council members, etc.).

Runoff Elections Vary by State

The rules for runoff elections vary from state to state. Some states hold primary runoff elections if nobody gets the minimum threshold of votes.

Two states have general election runoff voting for specific offices or positions, and five states use ranked-choice or instant runoff voting for primaries.

Below is a summary of the runoff election rules by state:

• Alabama: A primary candidate must get over 50% of the vote. If nobody gets 50% of the total votes, there will be a primary runoff election nine weeks after the first primary. Only voters in the first primary election can vote in the runoff election. Military and overseas voters requesting an absentee ballot to vote in the state primary will get a ranked-choice ballot. This enables instant runoff voting should there be a need for a runoff election. It also prevents voters from requesting and mailing in a second ballot.
• Arkansas: Primary candidates must get over 50% of the vote to win. If nobody meets this threshold, there will be a primary runoff election three weeks after the first primary. Military and overseas voters requesting an absentee ballot will get a ranked-choice ballot. This enables instant runoff voting should there be a need for it.
• California: Instant runoff voting happens in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, and San Leandro.
• Colorado: Instant runoff voting happens in Telluride, Basalt, and Carbondale.
• Florida: Party primaries use instant runoff voting.
• Georgia: A primary candidate must get 50% of the vote, or there will be a runoff election nine weeks after the first primary. General election candidates for statewide offices must also meet the 50% threshold.
• Indiana: Party primaries use instant runoff voting.
• Louisiana: Louisiana has an open primary system, where all candidates for office run in one primary election. If the top candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, they win the primary and the general election. If no candidate gets 50%, the top two candidates move on to the general election ballot. This system applies to local, state, and congressional races.
• Maine: Instant runoff voting happens for state primary, congressional, and presidential elections. This started with the 2020 elections.
• Maryland: Takoma Park's party primaries and local elections use instant runoff voting.
• Massachusetts: Instant runoff voting applies to local elections in Cambridge.
• Michigan: Eastpointe, Michigan, uses ranked-choice voting for city elections.
• Minnesota: Party primaries use instant runoff voting. So do local elections in St. Paul, Minneapolis, and St. Louis Park.
• Mississippi: A primary candidate must get more than 50% of the vote, or there will be a runoff election three weeks after the primary.
• New Mexico: Instant runoff voting applies to local elections in Santa Fe and Las Cruces.
• North Carolina: A primary candidate must get at least 40% of the vote, or there will be a primary runoff election seven weeks after the primary. In a non-partisan municipal election, if a candidate does not get a 50%-plus-one majority vote, the candidate who came in second may ask for a runoff election.
• Oklahoma: A primary candidate must get a 50%-plus-one majority of the vote, or a primary runoff election will take place in August.
• South Carolina: A primary candidate must get more than 50% of the vote, or there will be a primary runoff election two weeks after the primary. Military and overseas voters requesting an absentee ballot will get a ranked-choice ballot to enable instant runoff voting. This prevents the voter from requesting and mailing a second ballot.
• South Dakota: To appear on the ballot, a primary candidate for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and governor must get at least 35% of the vote. If no candidate achieves that, the top two candidates take part in a "secondary" or runoff election three weeks after the primary.
• Texas: A primary candidate must get more than 50% of the vote, or there will be a primary runoff election six weeks after the primary.
• Utah: Instant runoff voting applies to local elections in Vineland and Payson.
• Vermont: In Vermont, there is only a primary runoff election if there is a tie.
• Wisconsin: Party primaries use instant runoff voting.

Voting laws change over time. This is just a snapshot of state runoff voting laws.

To learn more about runoff voting or specific state statutes, visit:

• The National Conference of State Legislatures
• The non-partisan website Ballotpedia
• Your state's board of elections

You can also contact someone at your local election offices for more information.

Can You Vote by Absentee Ballot in a Runoff Election?

You can request an absentee ballot to vote in a runoff election. This can be challenging when the timeframe between a primary and runoff election is short. It's difficult to meet the voting deadline when waiting to get your absentee ballot and send it back.

Two states offer instant runoff ballots, allowing absentee voters to vote only once. This solves the problem of returning your absentee ballot on time.

You Can Challenge Unfair and Illegal Election Practices

Take action if you believe someone has infringed on your right to vote. If wrongful actions undermined your candidacy for office during an election campaign, you should meet with an election law lawyer. These attorneys are knowledgeable about the election laws in your state.