Majority Winners
RCV is designed to ensure the winning candidate is supported by more than half of voters in the final round, rather than potentially winning with a small plurality in a crowded field.
In plain English
When voters rank their choices.
Instead of picking just one candidate, you rank them 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and so on. If nobody gets more than half the votes, last-place candidates are dropped and their voters' next picks are counted until someone wins a majority.
Simple example
Maine began using ranked-choice voting in federal elections in 2018, and Alaska adopted it for state and federal general elections beginning in 2022.
Why it matters
What the term actually changes.
Voter Strategy
Supporters say it lets people vote for their true favorite without 'wasting' their vote, while critics say ranking multiple candidates adds complexity and can lead to ballots being discarded if all ranked choices are eliminated.
How it works
The mechanics, in practice.
Ranking The Ballot
Voters mark candidates in order of preference instead of choosing only one. A candidate who wins a majority of first-choice votes is declared the winner immediately.
Elimination Rounds
If no one has a majority, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated and those ballots are recounted using each voter's next-ranked choice. The process repeats until a candidate surpasses 50 percent.
Related guide
How would ranked-choice voting change federal elections?
A look at how ranked-choice voting works, where it is used, and what would have to happen for it to replace plurality voting in U.S. House, Senate, and presidential races.
Read the guide → Related issue brief
Should ranked-choice voting replace plurality voting in federal elections?
Advocates say ranking candidates produces majority winners and broader appeal; opponents say the system adds complexity and delays without clear benefits.
Read the brief →You’ve learned the term. Now vote.
Should ranked-choice voting replace plurality voting in federal elections?
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