Ranked Choice Voting is a ballot counting method that results in a winner chosen by a true majority of the voters. The voters rank the candidates in order of preference. Each voter has one vote which counts for the highest preferred candidate that can use it.

The term “Instant Runoff Voting” (IRV) is sometimes used because the method of transferring votes from defeated candidates to continuing candidates accomplishes the election and runoff instantly, with one single ballot.

RCV is a voting system for single-winner elections that guarantees majority winners in a single round of voting. It allows voters to vote their hopes instead of their fears by ranking candidates without worrying about spoiler dynamics or wasted votes. Ranked Choice Voting also eliminates the need for low-turnout, high-cost runoffs.

The image below shows what your ranked choice ballot might look like.  Click the ballot to learn more about how RCV works.