Ranked-choice voting (RCV) can refer to one of several ranked voting methods used in some cities and states in the United States. The term is not strictly defined, but most often refers to instant-runoff voting (IRV) or single transferable vote (STV), the main difference being whether only one winner or multiple winners are elected.
At the federal and state level, instant runoff voting is used for congressional and presidential elections in Maine; state, congressional, and presidential general elections in Alaska; and special congressional elections in Hawaii. Starting in 2025, it will also be used for all elections in the District of Columbia.
As of February 2024, RCV is used for local elections in 45 US cities including Salt Lake City and Seattle.[2] It has also been used by some state political parties in party-run primaries and nominating conventions.[3][4][5] As a contingency in the case of a runoff election, ranked ballots are used by overseas voters in six states.[2]
Since 2020, voters in seven states have rejected ballot initiatives that would have implemented, or allowed legislatures to implement, ranked choice voting. Ranked choice voting has also been banned in eleven states.
- ^ "WHERE IS RCV USED?". RCV Resources. Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ a b "Where is Ranked Choice Voting Used?". FairVote. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "Perspective | How ranked-choice voting saved the Virginia GOP from itself". Washington Post. November 5, 2021. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- ^ "Ranked Choice Voting in Utah". Utah Ranked Choice Voting. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- ^ "2020 State Convention". The Indiana Republican Party. May 20, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2023.