Instant Runoff Voting Written By: Chris Gates Pam Wilmot, Common Cause MA Edited By: Michael Bleiweiss, Common Cause MA Ranked Choice Voting for Single-Winner Races

What Is Instant Runoff Voting? A method of voting that requires a majority to elect a candidate Voters rank candidates in order of preference Determines a majority winner by conducting instant runoffs using voter preferences until one candidate has a majority Cheaper and more efficient than second elections

An election reform that is starting to catch on. Instant Runoff Voting... Has been used in Australia for 80 years and in Ireland for more than a decade. Has is currently used in San Francisco, CA and Burlington, VT elections. Has been approved by voters in places ranging from Ferndale, MI; Takoma Park, MD; and Berkeley, CA. Has been introduced as bills in over a dozen state legislatures

Plurality Elections Whichever candidate gets the most votes wins. Most U.S. elections use plurality rules. Advantages No runoff is ever needed Problems The majority choice is often not elected More than two choices means “spoilers” or incentives for less voter choice.

Plurality: Two Candidates Winner Candidate A 55% Candidate B 45% Loser

Plurality: Three Candidates Winner But majority prefer A over B Siphons-off more votes from A than B

What Happened? If Candidate A were running against Candidate B, A would win by 10% -- 55% to 45% Add Candidate C to the mix, with similar views to Candidate A. B now wins by 7%-- even though she would have lost in a head to head race. Democracy Loses.

How IRV Works Declare a winner Yes No majority No Eliminate lowest candidate Re-tally ballots Is there a majority winner? Tally all ballots Voters vote their preferences

Demonstration of IRV

Voters Mark Their Ballots

Votes are recorded

First round results

One candidate gets a majority

No candidate gets a majority

Re-distribute votes

Second Round Results

Still No Majority: Re-distribute votes again

Re-distribute votes again

Final results

Final Concerns Too complicated for voters Reality: Experience shows voters use IRV without difficulty Creates headaches for election administration Reality: No burden on local election officials Voting equipment cannot handle the ballots Reality: Modern equipment can handle it

IRV Reality Instant runoff voting can determine a majority winner in a single election, which: saves money eliminates hassle maximizes voter turnout allows for the possibility of a compromise candidate Instant runoff voting: restores majority rule eliminates the spoiler problem may reduce mud-slinging campaigns In states that already use runoff elections In states that now use plurality elections