What is Preferential Voting?

Voters simply rank the candidates in order of preference – first choice, second choice, and so on. If a candidate receives more than half of the first choices, that candidate wins, just like in any other election. However, if there is no majority winner after counting first choices, the race is decided by an “instant runoff.” The candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and voters who picked that candidate as “number 1” will have their votes count for their next choice. This process continues until two candidates remain, and the majority candidate wins.

While preferential voting – also known as ranked choice voting – has gained popularity in recent years, it is not a new idea. The process is detailed in Robert’s Rules of Order. It has been adopted by a dozen cities in Utah, and has been used with great success for Republican primaries and conventions in Utah, Virginia, and Indiana. Globally, conservative parties thrive when they use preferential primaries to pick their leaders.

To see an example of “instant runoff” results, check out this video from FairVote:

Preferential Voting vs. Plurality Voting

Plurality voting, also known as “first-past-the-post,” is a voting method in which the candidate with the most votes wins, even if a majority of voters oppose them.

The deficiencies of plurality voting include:

  • Depending on how many candidates run, winners may have substantially less than 50% of the vote, leading to minority rule.
  • It is common for like-minded candidates to split the vote, allowing a candidate with minority views and minority support to win.
  • There is implicit pressure on voters to vote strategically for candidates that pollsters deem to be close to the top, rather than their preferred candidate.
  • In some jurisdictions, candidates have been known to recruit their own weak opponents to siphon off votes from stronger competitors.
  • Since candidates need to win a plurality at any cost, negative campaigning becomes the norm instead of issues-based campaigning.
  • Candidates win by turning out their base of supporters in any way they can without appealing to all voters. (We’re already seeing Republican presidential candidates try to tear each other down, which will likely deflate Republican enthusiasm in 2024.)
  • Studies show that plurality voting increases voter apathy, because voters feel the plurality system does not give them a say.

No election system is perfect, but ranked choice voting in primaries addresses and improves many of the flaws of plurality voting. It requires candidates to engage with more voters and to garner majority support from the party before moving on to face a general election.

There is a reason that states are called “the laboratories of democracy.” Our constitutional system unleashes states, individuals, and associations of individuals (like political parties) to innovate and improve. Unlike the rest of the world, Americans have never been satisfied with “that’s the way it has always been done.”

Preferential Voting vs. Runoffs

Two-round runoffs also deliver majority winners, but they have a high cost. State and local governments need to bring all the equipment, staff, and volunteers back out to run a second election – potentially doubling the costs of administration. For statewide races, this cost can be tens of millions of dollars. For example, a new report finds that the 2020 Georgia runoff last year cost $75 million in taxpayer dollars.

Preferential voting accomplishes the goals of runoffs instantly, but with a far lower cost. The money saved can be invested back in public safety or infrastructure, or returned to taxpayers through tax cuts and rebates.