Instant runoff voting (IRV)

Definition

Instant runoff voting (IRV) is a voting method where voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes are redistributed until one candidate has a majority.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. IRV helps to ensure that the winning candidate has broad support by requiring a majority rather than just a plurality.
2. In each round of counting, if no candidate has more than 50% of the vote, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated.
3. IRV can reduce the impact of spoiler candidates who may split the vote in plurality systems.
4. Votes are redistributed based on voters' preferences until one candidate achieves a majority.
5. IRV can be more complex to administer and understand compared to simple plurality voting.

Review Questions

• What happens to a voter's ballot if their top-choice candidate is eliminated in IRV?
• How does IRV differ from plurality voting?
• Why might IRV be considered more democratic than other voting methods?

Related terms

Plurality Voting: A voting system where the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of whether they have a majority.

Majority Rule: A principle that requires more than half of the votes to win an election.

Spoiler Effect: Occurs when a third-party candidate takes away votes from a major party candidate, potentially changing the election outcome.