About Ranked Choice Voting
How Ranked Choice Voting Works
Ranked Choice Voting gives voters more freedom, more expression, and more power. Instead of picking just one candidate, a voter has the option to rank their candidates in order of preference — 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and so on.
Check out this Video Explainer:
*This video was originally produced to educate New York City voters about their RCV system. RCV systems can give voters the option to rank more than five candidates.
Why is this helpful? For the first time ever, a voter now has the power of backup choices. This means that if their favorite (1st choice) cannot win the election, their vote instantly counts toward their next choice. This type of power helps voters succeed in two kinds of election scenarios:
As a voter, with Ranked Choice Voting, you can always vote for the candidate you truly love without the fear of “throwing your vote away”. Even if your favorite is not a front-runner, you have backup choices, so your vote is never wasted, and your voice is always heard.
How to Win Under Ranked Choice Voting
Ballots are counted in “instant runoff rounds” where contestants receiving the fewest top-choices are eliminated and their supporters’ ballots are then counted toward the next choice indicated on each.
This process “consolidates” the voting power of like-minded voters, no matter how many candidates are running, rather than seeing the strength of their votes diluted and divided between multiple similar candidates. It means no more “spoiler problem”, so more candidates with a variety of backgrounds or ideas can run without worrying about distorting the outcome of the election.
These rounds repeat until one candidate has the support of more than half of the voters. Because winning requires a broad majority of support, candidates need to earn their opponents’ supporters’ 2nd and 3rd choice votes on the ballot. This encourages them to find common ground and talk about the substance of issues, rather than mudslinging — which alienates voters.
Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is a simple but powerful solution that gives people a stronger voice and more choice when they vote.
Why Ranked Choice Voting
People are fed up with toxic politics and unresponsive, gridlocked government dominated by powerful special interests. Grassroots leaders across the country are organizing to solve the source of the problem — our flawed election system.
Our current “pick-one” plurality election system punishes voters with “wasting their vote” if they choose their actual favorite and don’t use their ballot to support a “front-runner” candidate or one from the two major parties. It lets unpopular politicians win by allowing candidates to be elected even when the majority of voters oppose them, and makes elections toxic by incentivizing candidates to beat down their opponents and exaggerate differences, missing opportunities to reinforce areas of agreement that unify the electorate and create consensus for getting important things done after the election.
QUICK FACTS
Every vote counts and you can always vote for your favorite knowing your vote will never be wasted.
Fresh candidates can run without fear of being treated like a “spoiler”.
New parties can form and share their ideas without fear of splitting votes from a similar major party.
The current system is fragile and vulnerable to manipulation and broken, inaccurate outcomes as soon as more than two candidates run. This is because of “vote splitting” and the “spoiler effect”. Two or more candidates or parties running on similar platforms penalize each other and divide their shared base of supporters, rather than reinforcing their mutual efforts. Finally, our current voting system limits participation by discouraging new candidates from running and new parties from forming.
Where Ranked Choice Voting is Used
See Table
Benton County, OR
San Fransisco, CA
Oakland, CA
San Leandro, CA
Berkeley, CA
Palm Desert, CA
Carbondale, CO
Basalt, CO
Telluride, CO
Santa Fe, NM
Las Cruces, NM
Minneapolis, MN
St. Paul, MN
St. Louis Park, MN
Memphis, TN
Eastpointe, MI
Takoma, MD
Cambridge, MA
Easthampton, MA
New York City, NY
Albany, CA
Eureka, CA
Boulder, CO
Arden, DE
Sarasota, FL
Portland, ME
Ferndale, MI
Bloomington, MN
Minnetonka, MN
Austin, TX
24 cities and towns in Utah: Bluffdale, Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Elk Ridge, Genola, Goshen, Heber, Lehi, Magna, Midvale, Millcreek, Moab, Newton, Nibley, Payson, River Heights, Riverton, Salt Lake City, Sandy, South Salt Lake, Springville, Vineyard, and Woodland Hills
Burlington, VT
Ann Arbor, MI
Westbrook, ME
Broomfield, CO
RCV by the numbers: 28 states include at least one jurisdiction that uses RCV. 54 jurisdictions across the country have used or enacted RCV.
State | City/Town | RCV Usage | Details |
---|---|---|---|
Alabama | Statewide | Military & overseas voting | Enacted for all federal primary runoffs in 2015. |
Alaska | Statewide | Statewide & for presidential elections | To be used in November 2022. |
Arkansas | Statewide | Military & overseas voting | Adopted in 2005, extended to all local runoffs in 2007. |
California | Berkeley | Local elections | Adopted in 2004, used since 2010 to elect the mayor, city council and city auditor. |
California | Oakland | Local elections | Adopted in 2006, used since 2010 for 18 city offices, including mayor and city council. |
California | San Fransisco | Local elections | Adopted in 2002, used since 2004 to elect the mayor, city attorney, Board of Supervisors and five other citywide offices. |
California | San Leandro | Local elections | Adopted in 2000, used since 2010 to elect the mayor and city council. |
California | Albany | Local elections | Adopted in 2020 for City Council and School Board beginning in November 2022. |
California | Eureka | Local elections | Adopted in 2020 to be used for mayor and city council elections beginning in November 2022. |
California | Palm Desert | Local elections | Adopted January 2020 to be used for city council elections, starting in November 2022. |
Colorado | Basalt | Local elections | Adopted in 2002 for mayoral races only with three or more candidates. First used in April 2020. |
Colorado | Carbondale | Local elections | Adopted in 2002 for mayoral races with three or more candidates. |
Colorado | Telluride | Local elections | dopted in 2008 for next three mayoral elections with at least three candidates. Used in 2011, 2015 and 2019. |
Colorado | Boulder | Local elections | Adopted for mayoral races in 2020 to be used beginning in 2023. |
Delaware | Arden | Local elections | In use for town council elections since the early twentieth century. |
Florida | Sarasota | Local elections | Adopted in 2007, awaiting approval from the Florida Department of State's Division of Elections. |
Georgia | Statewide | Military & overseas voting | Adopted in 2021, to be used beginning in 2022. |
Hawaii | Statewide | Military & overseas voting | Used in Democratic primary in 2020. |
Illinois | Springfield | Military & overseas voting | Adopted in 2007, first used in 2011. |
Kansas | Statewide | Presidential primaries | Used in Democratic primary in 2020. |
Louisiana | Statewide | Military & overseas voting | Adopted and used since the 1990s for state and federal general election runoffs. |
Maine | Statewide | Statewide & for presidential elections | Adopted in 2016 and first used in 2018 for all state and federal primary elections and all general elections for Congress. |
Maine | Portland | Local elections | Adopted in 2010 for mayoral elections. |
Maryland | Takoma Park | Local elections | Adopted in 2006 and used since 2007 in all elections for mayor and city council. |
Massachusetts | Amherst | Local elections | Adopted in 2018, to be used beginning in November 2021. |
Massachusetts | Easthampton | Local elections | Adopted in 2019, to be used in mayoral and all single-seat city council elections starting in November 2021. |
Massachusetts | Cambridge | Local elections | Adopted in 1941, used to elect the city council and school board. |
Michigan | Eastpointe | Local elections | Adopted for 2019 and 2021 city council elections. |
Michigan | Ferndale | Local elections | Adopted in 2004, awaiting implementation. |
Minnesota | Bloomington | Local elections | Adopted in 2020 for city elections. |
Minnesota | Minneapolis | Local elections | Adopted in 2006, used since 2009 in elections for 22 city offices, including mayor and city council, some park board and board of estimate seats. |
Minnesota | Minnetonka | Local elections | Adopted in 2020 for city elections. |
Minnesota | Saint Paul | Local elections | Adopted in 2009, used since 2011 to elect the mayor and city council. |
Minnesota | Saint Louis Park | Local elections | Adopted in 2018, used since 2019 for mayor and city council races. |
Mississippi | Statewide | Military & overseas voting | Adopted in 2014, used in federal runoffs. |
Nevada | Statewide | Presidential primaries | All early voters in Democratic caucuses in February 2020. |
New Mexico | Santa Fe | Local elections | Adopted in 2008, used since 2018 for mayor, city council, and municipal judge. |
New Mexico | Las Cruces | Local elections | Adopted in 2018, used since 2019 for all municipal elections. |
New York | New York City | Local elections | Adopted in 2019, used in all city primary and special elections for mayor, citywide offices, borough presidents and city council, starting in 2021 |
Oregon | Benton County | Local elections | Adopted in 2016, used in general elections for county offices of commissioner and sheriff, beginning in 2020. |
South Carolina | Statewide | Military & overseas voting | Adopted and first used in 2006 for state and federal runoffs. |
Tennessee | Memphis | Local elections | Adopted by voters in 2008, and approved again by voters in 2018. Awaiting implementation readiness. |
Texas | Austin | Local elections | Adopted in 2020 to be used for all city elections. |
Utah | Bluffdale | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Cottonwood Heights | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Draper | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Elk Ridge | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Genola | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Goshen | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Heber | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Lehi | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Magna | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Midvale | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Millcreek | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Moab | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Newton | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Nibley | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Payson | Local elections | Will be used for mayor, 2 at-large city council seats, and 1 at-large vacancy election in 2021. |
Utah | River Heights | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Riverton | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Salt Lake City | Local elections | Will be used for 4 by-district city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Sandy | Local elections | Will be used for mayor, one at-large city council seat, and two by-district city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | South Salt Lake | Local elections | Will be used for mayor, one at-large city council seat, and two by-district city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Springville | Local elections | Will be used for mayor, 2 at-large city council seats, and 1 at-large vacancy election in 2021. |
Utah | Vineyard | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Utah | Woodland Hills | Local elections | Will be used for mayor and 2 at-large city council seats in 2021. |
Vermont | Burlington | Local elections | Adopted in 2021, to be used for city council beginning in March 2023. |
Virginia | Statewide | Presidential primaries | All voters in Republican primary. |
Wyoming | Statewide | Presidential primaries | All voters in Democratic primary in April 2020. |
State | City/Town | RCV Usage |
---|---|---|
Alabama | Statewide | Military & overseas voting |
Alaska | Statewide | Statewide & for presidential elections |
Arkansas | Statewide | Military & overseas voting |
California | Berkeley | Local elections |
California | Oakland | Local elections |
California | San Fransisco | Local elections |
California | San Leandro | Local elections |
California | Albany | Local elections |
California | Eureka | Local elections |
California | Palm Desert | Local elections |
Colorado | Basalt | Local elections |
Colorado | Carbondale | Local elections |
Colorado | Telluride | Local elections |
Colorado | Boulder | Local elections |
Delaware | Arden | Local elections |
Florida | Sarasota | Local elections |
Georgia | Statewide | Military & overseas voting |
Hawaii | Statewide | Military & overseas voting |
Illinois | Springfield | Military & overseas voting |
Kansas | Statewide | Presidential primaries |
Louisiana | Statewide | Military & overseas voting |
Maine | Statewide | Statewide & for presidential elections |
Maine | Portland | Local elections |
Maryland | Takoma Park | Local elections |
Massachusetts | Amherst | Local elections |
Massachusetts | Easthampton | Local elections |
Massachusetts | Cambridge | Local elections |
Michigan | Eastpointe | Local elections |
Michigan | Ferndale | Local elections |
Minnesota | Bloomington | Local elections |
Minnesota | Minneapolis | Local elections |
Minnesota | Minnetonka | Local elections |
Minnesota | Saint Paul | Local elections |
Minnesota | Saint Louis Park | Local elections |
Mississippi | Statewide | Military & overseas voting |
Nevada | Statewide | Presidential primaries |
New Mexico | Santa Fe | Local elections |
New Mexico | Las Cruces | Local elections |
New York | New York City | Local elections |
Oregon | Benton County | Local elections |
South Carolina | Statewide | Military & overseas voting |
Tennessee | Memphis | Local elections |
Texas | Austin | Local elections |
Utah | Bluffdale | Local elections |
Utah | Cottonwood Heights | Local elections |
Utah | Draper | Local elections |
Utah | Elk Ridge | Local elections |
Utah | Genola | Local elections |
Utah | Goshen | Local elections |
Utah | Heber | Local elections |
Utah | Lehi | Local elections |
Utah | Magna | Local elections |
Utah | Midvale | Local elections |
Utah | Millcreek | Local elections |
Utah | Moab | Local elections |
Utah | Newton | Local elections |
Utah | Nibley | Local elections |
Utah | Payson | Local elections |
Utah | River Heights | Local elections |
Utah | Riverton | Local elections |
Utah | Salt Lake City | Local elections |
Utah | Sandy | Local elections |
Utah | South Salt Lake | Local elections |
Utah | Springville | Local elections |
Utah | Vineyard | Local elections |
Utah | Woodland Hills | Local elections |
Vermont | Burlington | Local elections |
Virginia | Statewide | Presidential primaries |
Wyoming | Statewide | Presidential primaries |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we really change how we vote?
Absolutely! Our methods are simple and time-tested: organize and educate regular voters so they can spread the word and take effective actions to achieve this common sense improvement to our elections.
To do this we offer these valuable resources:
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A proven playbook of strategies, tactics, and priorities to ensure success
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Coaching and consultation
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Pathways to funding
Experience has shown that this basic assistance we provide can enable a small but dedicated group to rapidly grow into a powerful statewide wave of change demanding to Rank the Vote.
What's wrong with our elections?
Our current “pick-one” plurality election system:
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Punishes voters with “wasting their vote” if they choose their actual favorite and don’t use their ballot to support a “front-runner” candidate or one from the two major parties.
-
Let’s unpopular politicians win by allowing candidates to be elected even when the majority of voters oppose them.
-
Makes elections toxic by incentivizing candidates to beat down their opponents and exaggerate differences, missing opportunities to reinforce areas of agreement that unify the electorate and create consensus for getting important things done after the election.
-
Is fragile and vulnerable to manipulation and broken, inaccurate outcomes as soon as more than two candidates run. This is because of “vote splitting” and the “spoiler effect”. Two or more candidates or parties running on similar platforms penalize each other and divide their shared base of supporters, rather than reinforcing their mutual efforts.
-
Limits participation by discouraging new candidates from running and new parties from forming.
The results are catastrophic:
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Denial of choice to voters, breeding disinterest and cynicism.
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Poisoning of political culture and magnification of partisan division.
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Gridlock around big problems rather than common purpose taking action.
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Erosion of competition, innovation, and problem solving in elections and government.
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Government of the powerful, not of the people.
How does RCV help?
Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is the reform that is rescuing America. RCV offers transformative benefits:
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Every vote counts and you can always vote for your favorite knowing your vote will never be wasted.
-
Fresh candidates can run without fear of being treated like a “spoiler”.
-
New parties can form and share their unique and valuable perspectives without fear of undermining their own goals by splitting votes and diluting electoral power with the most similar major party.
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Strong independents can participate holding their heads high without dealing with unfair accusations of interference or irrelevance.
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Problem solving orientation where everyone running has a real reason to emphasize areas of common agreement as well as what makes them the best choice. Candidates tend to focus on issues and treat rivals with more respect.
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The will of the people prevails because the majority of voters always determines the winner from a full and robust set of choices.