Ranked Choice Voting: How It Works and Why Some Love It
Ranked Choice Voting, also known as Instant Runoff Voting, is a system of voting that allows the voter to rank the candidates in their order of preference. This system is being increasingly used in local, state, and national elections in a number of countries. In this article, we will explore how Ranked Choice Voting works and the reasons why some people prefer it over the traditional first-past-the-post system of voting.
How Ranked Choice Voting Works
Ranked Choice Voting involves a simple process. The voter has to rank the candidates running for a particular office in the order of preference. The candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated, and their supporters' votes are transferred to their next choice. This process continues until one candidate has a majority of the votes or until all the candidates have been eliminated.
For example, let's say there are three candidates running for the office of mayor in a city. The voter ranks them as follows:
- John
- Mary
- Sam
After the votes are counted, it is found that John has the fewest number of votes. John's supporters' votes are then transferred to their next choice. Let's say that most of John's supporters ranked Mary as their second choice. This means that Mary's vote count increases, and she moves to first place. The process continues until one candidate has a majority of the votes.
The Advantages of Ranked Choice Voting
There are many advantages of using Ranked Choice Voting. One of the primary advantages is that it ensures that the candidate who has the support of the majority of the voters wins the election. This is because the system requires that the winning candidate has a majority of the votes. In contrast, the first-past-the-post system only requires that the winning candidate has the most votes.
Another advantage of using Ranked Choice Voting is that it eliminates the need for a separate runoff election. In traditional elections, if no candidate receives a majority of the votes, a runoff election is held between the two candidates who received the most votes. This can be costly and time-consuming. In Ranked Choice Voting, a separate runoff election is not necessary, as the system automatically eliminates the weakest candidate and redistributes their votes.
Ranked Choice Voting also encourages candidates to campaign positively. In traditional elections, candidates often resort to negative campaigning to win over voters. This can be detrimental to the overall political discourse and can reduce voter turnout. In Ranked Choice Voting, candidates are encouraged to appeal to a broader range of voters, as they need to win over the second and third preferences of voters who may not have chosen them as their first preference.
The Criticisms of Ranked Choice Voting
Despite the many advantages of Ranked Choice Voting, there are some criticisms of the system. One of the primary criticisms is that it can be complex and confusing for some voters. This may lead to a decrease in voter turnout, as some voters may not fully understand how the system works.
Another criticism of Ranked Choice Voting is that it can be time-consuming and expensive to count the votes. This is because the system requires multiple rounds of counting, which can take longer than traditional counting methods. This can be costly for local governments, and some opponents of the system argue that it may not be worth the additional expense.
Conclusion
Ranked Choice Voting is a system of voting that allows voters to rank the candidates in their order of preference. It is being increasingly used in local, state, and national elections in a number of countries. The system has many advantages, such as ensuring that the winning candidate has the support of the majority of the voters and eliminating the need for a separate runoff election. However, there are also criticisms of the system, such as its complexity and cost. Nevertheless, many people believe that the advantages of the system outweigh the disadvantages, and that it can lead to fairer and more representative elections.