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About Ranked Choice Voting
Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) — also known as Instant Runoff Voting — empowers voters to rank candidates in order of preference and ensures winners with a majority or the highest support possible in a single, decisive and cost-effective election. It gives voters greater voice, choice and power, and fosters more inclusive, civil, and representative elections.
On the ballot, voters rank as many or as few candidates as they like, marking a first choice, second choice, third choice, etc. If a candidate receives a majority (50% + 1) of first-choice votes, that candidate wins. If not, there is an instant runoff. The candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is defeated, and these ballots now count for those voters’ second choices. This process continues until one candidate reaches a majority of continuing ballots, or until two candidates remain and the candidate with the most votes wins. The winning candidate will always have a majority of votes cast in the final round.
About FairVote Minnesota
Founded in 1998, FairVote Minnesota is a nonprofit organization that works for a stronger democracy through public education and advocacy for Ranked Choice Voting, a system proven to be more inclusive, democratic, and representative than our current plurality electoral system. We are a nonpartisan grassroots organization that engages hundreds of volunteers and thousands of supporters. Together, we work to educate voters, candidates, campaigns and the media about Ranked Choice Voting, advance electoral reform at all levels in our state, and support local campaigns to adopt Ranked Choice Voting. Learn more about Ranked Choice Voting and the experience of RCV in Minnesota cities.
Media contact
For press inquiries or to join our mailing list, please contact Executive Director (jeanne.massey@fairvotemn.org).