Ranked-Choice Voting Explained: How it effectively works and Where it’s Used
A breakdown of ranked-choice voting, its adoption in New York City, and its potential effects on elections nationwide.
By Amelia Rivera | NEW YORK – 2025/06/21 08:42:16
New York City voters have a new way to cast their ballots in primary elections. Instead of choosing just one candidate,they can rank up to five in order of preference. This system, known as ranked-choice voting (RCV), aims to give voters more voice and potentially lead to more diverse election outcomes.
How Ranked-Choice Voting Works
Ranked-choice voting is designed to address concerns about “spoiler” candidates and wasted votes. john Tarleton, editor-in-chief of The Indypendent, explained that RCV allows voters to support their favorite candidate without fear of inadvertently helping the candidate they like least.
“It gives voters more choices and more power in determining the ultimate winner of an election.”
In a traditional election,if a candidate doesn’t receive a majority of the votes,a runoff election might potentially be held between the top two vote-getters. RCV eliminates the need for a separate runoff. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. then, the second-choice votes from those ballots are distributed to the remaining candidates. This process continues until one candidate receives a majority.
Ranked-Choice Voting Across the US
New York City implemented ranked-choice voting for city elections in 2021. But the system is not new. San Francisco was the first city to implement RCV in 2004, according to The Indypendent editor John Tarleton. now roughly 40 cities and towns across the United states use RCV, including oakland, boulder, Colorado; Minneapolis; Burlington, Vermont; and Takoma Park, Maryland.
Maine and Alaska use ranked-choice voting statewide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ranked-choice voting?
Ranked-choice voting is an electoral system where voters rank candidates in order of preference.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 the voters’ next preference until a candidate achieves a majority.
Where is ranked-choice voting used?
Ranked-choice voting is used in approximately 55 jurisdictions in the United States, including cities like San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Burlington, and also statewide in Maine and Alaska.
How does ranked-choice voting prevent wasted votes?
Ranked-choice voting allows voters to support their favorite candidate without fear of inadvertently helping the candidate they like least. If their first-choice candidate is eliminated, their vote is automatically transferred to their next preferred candidate.
