Want to learn more about ranked choice voting?
look no further.
What is Ranked Choice Voting (RCV)
Ranked Choice Voting (sometimes referred to as Instant Runoff Voting) is a method of voting in which voters rank candidates on the ballot in order of preference – first, second, third, and so on. Voters can cast their vote for the candidate they truly prefer knowing that if he or she doesn’t garner enough votes to move on to the next round, their ballots will count toward their second (and even third) choice . This simple voting method gives voters more voice by eliminating the spoiler dynamic and leveling the playing field for all candidates.
How do I rank my ballot?
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It’s as simple as 1-2-3! Simply indicate your first choice candidate in the first column, your second choice in the second column, and so on. You may rank as few or as many candidates as you’d like (up to 3 in Minneapolis and up to 6 in St. Paul). Know that the more you rank, the more power your ballot – and your voice – will have.
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Is there a primary election?
No. RCV eliminates the low-turnout fall primary and combines both elections in one high-turnout election in November.
How does RCV address the problems in our current voting system?
Ranked Choice Voting is a simple reform that produces more civil, inclusive, participatory and representative outcomes than the current first-past-the-post system.
By allowing voters to express their true preferences instead of voting for the “lesser of two evils,” RCV:
By allowing voters to express their true preferences instead of voting for the “lesser of two evils,” RCV:
- Eliminates "wasted" votes.
- Solves the "spoiler" problem and gives voters more choice.
- Simulates a runoff in a single, cost-effective election ensuring candidates win with the broadest support possible rather than simply being the first to “past the post.”
- Rolls two elections into one, eliminating the need for low-turnout, costly primaries in local nonpartisan elections – and runoffs in state and federal partisan primaries and general elections – to ensure majority outcomes.
- Increases voter participation in the election of the winner in a single decisive election in November.
- Reduces the cost of running campaigns and elections.
- Eliminates the opportunity for a small group of voters to prematurely winnow the field of candidates in a low-turnout, early August primary.
- Gives voters more choice and an equal voice in a single, high-turnout, diverse election in November.
- Opens the political process to new voices.
- Promotes more diverse political representation.
- Increases opportunity for traditionally underrepresented communities.
- Rewards candidates who appeal to a broad base of voters.
- Reduces the incentive for candidates to attack their opponents and promotes more civil, issue-oriented campaigns.
- Results in office-holders who more fully represent the views and desires of a broad swath of voters.
- Fosters coalition-building and compromise.
Does RCV give some voters more votes than others? Does it violate the "one person, one vote" principle?
No. Every voter gets an equal vote. In every round of counting, every ballot counts as one vote for the highest-ranked candidate still in the running. If your candidate is still viable, your vote will count for your favorite candidate in the runoff round. If your candidate has been eliminated, just as in a traditional runoff election, you need to settle for one of the remaining candidates. Your vote automatically counts for whichever continuing candidate you prefer.
The mistaken impression that some voters get more votes than others was the basis for a legal challenge to RCV in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that RCV fully complies with the principle of "one person, one vote" and gives equal weight to each voter.
The mistaken impression that some voters get more votes than others was the basis for a legal challenge to RCV in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that RCV fully complies with the principle of "one person, one vote" and gives equal weight to each voter.
I heard RCV disenfranchises communities of color and less affluent voters. Is this true?
No. An independent study performed by St. Cloud State University in 2009 reported that 95% of Minneapolis voters found Ranked Choice Voting easy to use; and 97% of voters of color found using a Ranked Choice ballot simple. There is simply no evidence to support the claim that minority voters felt disenfranchised after using Ranked Choice Voting.
More recently, in the 2013 citywide mayoral RCV election in Minneapolis, exit polling by Edison Research showed that a whopping 85% of voters found RCV simple to use, including 82% of people of color. Additionally, 88% of voters ranked their ballots and more than two-thirds were familiar with RCV before going to the polls. The effective ballot rate was 99.95%, meaning that virtually every voter filled out his or her ballot correctly and had their vote counted.
In contrast, RCV has been shown to enfranchise communities of color by eliminating low-turnout primary elections – which are attended by disproportionately older, whiter, and more affluent voters than the general election. For example, in 2005 (before RCV was enacted), general election turnout was nearly three times greater than primary turnout (8 percent compared to 21 percent) in Ward 5 – which predominantly represents people of color – compared to two times greater for the city overall (15 percent to 30 percent).
RCV mitigates this inequity by holding one election in November, when turnout is higher and more diverse. And in San Francisco, where RCV has been in use for several years, effective voter participation has increased as high as 300 percent in traditionally low-turnout precincts.
More recently, in the 2013 citywide mayoral RCV election in Minneapolis, exit polling by Edison Research showed that a whopping 85% of voters found RCV simple to use, including 82% of people of color. Additionally, 88% of voters ranked their ballots and more than two-thirds were familiar with RCV before going to the polls. The effective ballot rate was 99.95%, meaning that virtually every voter filled out his or her ballot correctly and had their vote counted.
In contrast, RCV has been shown to enfranchise communities of color by eliminating low-turnout primary elections – which are attended by disproportionately older, whiter, and more affluent voters than the general election. For example, in 2005 (before RCV was enacted), general election turnout was nearly three times greater than primary turnout (8 percent compared to 21 percent) in Ward 5 – which predominantly represents people of color – compared to two times greater for the city overall (15 percent to 30 percent).
RCV mitigates this inequity by holding one election in November, when turnout is higher and more diverse. And in San Francisco, where RCV has been in use for several years, effective voter participation has increased as high as 300 percent in traditionally low-turnout precincts.
Will RCV result in a ballot with too many candidates?
No. The large number of candidates on the 2013 ballot for Minneapolis mayor was a result of the first competitive open mayoral race in 12 years coupled with no party endorsements and a very low filing fee for a city as large as Minneapolis. The city has since implemented a requirement to collect a minimum number of signatures or pay a higher filing fee, similar to St. Paul, so voters won’t likely see such a long ballot again. In council races, the number of candidates running in an open or competitive race is typically between three and five.
Can a candidate who finishes second in the first round ultimately win the election?
Yes, this is possible -- just like when a candidate who places second in the primary goes on to win the general election. RCV simply combines two elections into one, which simulates a two-round election. Instead of voting in two different elections, voters only have to go to the poll once, where they rank their ballots. Rounds of counting occur until one candidate (in a single-seat race) reaches the winning threshold. The candidate with the most first choices often wins, but it’s not uncommon for the candidate who places second in the initial round of counting to emerge as the winner.
Does RCV favor one party over another?
No, RCV doesn’t favor any political party; it simply ensures that outcomes reflect the will of the majority of voters. RCV is all about increasing the range of viable choice for voters by eliminating the fear of spoiler candidates, regardless of party affiliation. That’s just good, smart democracy. Furthermore, political leaders from all parties have endorsed RCV.
How are the ballots counted in Single- and multi-seat races?
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In a single-seat race (e.g., mayor) if a candidate receives a majority (50%+1) of first choices, that candidate wins. If no candidate receives a majority, the candidate with the fewest first choices is eliminated and those ballots are allocated to remaining candidates based on those voters’ second choices. This process repeats until a candidate reaches the winning threshold.
In a multi-seat race, the threshold is reduced because there are more seats to fill: 33% + 1 vote for the Board of Estimate and Taxation and 25% + 1 vote for the Park Board at-large race. The counting process is similar to single-seat elections, with the addition of transferring a winning candidates' surplus votes to second preferences to make sure that no votes are wasted. Click here to see how the the process works. |
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I still want to learn more. Where should I go?
Please visit www.FairVoteMN.org for much more information about RCV. You may also visit http://vote.minneapolismn.gov for more information about the 2017 Minneapolis elections and https://www.ramseycounty.us/residents/elections-votingwww.ramseycounty.us/residents/elections-voting for more information about the 2017 St. Paul elections.
why Rcv?“It eliminates low-turnout, unrepresentative primaries at a local level, and has been proven to foster greater political inclusion for historically underrepresented communities. RCV is transforming elections for the better – I’m excited to see its long-term benefits unfold in Minneapolis, St. Paul and other Minnesota cities.” - Kim Ellison
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