Ranked-choice voting

Definition

Ranked-choice voting (RCV) is an electoral system that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting just one. This method encourages more diverse candidates to run and can lead to more representative outcomes, as it helps ensure that the winning candidate has broader support from the electorate.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In ranked-choice voting, if no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed based on second choices.
2. This system reduces the impact of vote-splitting, allowing voters to express their true preferences without fear of wasting their vote.
3. Ranked-choice voting has been adopted in various jurisdictions, including cities like San Francisco and states like Maine, for both local and state elections.
4. RCV often leads to more civil campaigning, as candidates aim to appeal to a broader base of voters to secure second and third choice votes.
5. The implementation of ranked-choice voting can affect party dynamics and coalition formation, as parties may need to collaborate more strategically to secure broader support.

Review Questions

• How does ranked-choice voting address issues like vote-splitting and ensure that winning candidates have wider support?
  • Ranked-choice voting minimizes vote-splitting by allowing voters to rank multiple candidates instead of choosing just one. This way, if their top choice is eliminated, their vote can still count for their next preferred candidate. As a result, it increases the likelihood that the elected candidate has broader support from the overall electorate, ensuring they represent a majority of voters' preferences rather than just a plurality.
• Discuss the potential impacts of ranked-choice voting on candidate campaigning strategies compared to traditional plurality voting.
  • With ranked-choice voting, candidates are incentivized to broaden their appeal since they need not only first-choice votes but also second and third choices from voters. This leads to less negative campaigning as candidates aim to be viewed favorably by supporters of other candidates. In contrast, traditional plurality voting may encourage more aggressive tactics focused on securing a single first-place position without concern for broader voter sentiments.
• Evaluate how ranked-choice voting could transform coalition formation in political systems that traditionally use plurality voting methods.
  • Ranked-choice voting could significantly reshape coalition formation by encouraging parties and candidates to build broader alliances. In systems that typically employ plurality voting, candidates often focus on appealing to their base, which can result in polarization. RCV promotes a more collaborative political environment where candidates seek mutual support across party lines to secure higher rankings from voters. This can lead to more diverse representation in governance and foster a political landscape that values consensus over divisiveness.

Related terms

Plurality Voting: A voting system where the candidate with the most votes wins, even if they do not achieve an absolute majority.

Runoff Elections: Elections held to determine a winner when no candidate achieves a required threshold of votes, often used after a first round of voting.

Voting Paradox: A situation in which collective preferences can be cyclic, meaning that group preferences may not always reflect a clear majority preference among choices.