Ranked-Choice Voting
An electoral system where voters rank candidates by preference; if no candidate wins a majority, the lowest vote-getter is eliminated and those votes are redistributed.
Ranked-choice voting (RCV) is an electoral method in which voters rank candidates in order of preference (first choice, second choice, third choice, etc.) rather than simply choosing one candidate.
If no candidate wins a majority (more than 50 percent) of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated. Voters who ranked that candidate first have their votes transferred to their second-choice candidate. This process repeats until a candidate achieves a majority.
RCV has been adopted in various forms by several states and cities for primaries, local elections, and some general elections. Alaska used it for statewide elections beginning in 2022. Maine has used it for federal elections.
Supporters argue RCV reduces the spoiler effect and encourages more civil campaigning. Critics argue it is more complex and can cause voter confusion.
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A state-run election in which voters choose their party's nominee for president by selecting among competing candidates.
A primary election in which any registered voter may participate regardless of their party affiliation.
The total number of individual votes cast by citizens across the country for each presidential candidate.