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Ranked choice voting (RCV), also known as instant run-off or single transferable vote, is a system of voting where voters rank multiple candidates in their order of preference. If a voter’s top-ranked choice is eliminated and no candidate receives a majority of the votes, then their vote is transferred to their second-ranked and subsequent choices until a winner is determined.
Supporters of ranked choice voting argue that it promotes consensus and combats political polarization by favoring candidates who can appeal to a broad segment of the electorate. Opponents contend the system is overly complicated and runs counter to the principle of one-person,-one-vote
As of November 2024, ranked choice voting is used for congressional and presidential elections in Maine; state, congressional, and presidential general elections in Alaska; special congressional elections in Hawaii; and for local elections in 45 US cities. Ten state legislatures have banned ranked choice voting statewide since 2022, including Oklahoma in 2024.
