Ranked Choice Voting

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Ranked Choice Voting is based on ranking a list of candidates in order of preference. There are variations of this option, some which are more simple than others.

The primary advantages: 1. allows for "instant runoff" meaning a second follow up election is not required, 2. Votes are not "wasted" like in a winner take all system because weighted preferences do effect the eventual outcome.

The secondary advantages: 1. Encourages more voter participation because the focus is on One election not on a primary and then a general. 2. Encourages more voter participation because votes are not wasted. 3. Encourages third party candidates because there is no primary. 4. Discourages negative campaigning because it doesn't lock voters into a "lesser of two evils" choice. A candidate must work for the second, third preferences of voters. 5. Discourages money from buying an election for much the same reason as it discourages negative campaigning. Money is most often used to attack candidates, it is difficult to attack many different candidates without making yourself look bad.

News about Ranked Choice Voting

FairVote.org SF Mayoral Article

Scientific American Article on RCV 2004