Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is a simple reform that allows each voter to rank their candidates on the ballot in order of preference. Voters have the option to rank as many or as few candidates as they wish. Here’s a sample IRV ballot:
IRV eliminates the “spoiler” effect that can occur under our current system, where voting for one’s favorite candidate who doesn’t have a strong chance of winning can help elect one’s least-favorite candidate. For some simple examples of IRV in action, see our IRV Demonstrations page. To understand how IRV ballots are tabulated, read Counting IRV Ballots.
Any questions about IRV? Post them on our blog!
