Here’s a cute cartoon produced by FairVote that shows how IRV fixes the “spoiler” problem that can happen in a three-candidate race:
For a more real-life example, this Animated Slideshow shows how the 2000 presidential election may have taken shape had IRV been in place. Click the buttons on the bottom to step through the demonstration, and make sure you click on the button below “Distribute votes to” on the “First runoff” and “Second runoff” slides.
