What is ranked choice voting and how does it work?

As voters prepare for upcoming midterm elections, discussions have grown around what is ranked choice voting and how it changes traditional ballot systems. In places like Alaska and Maine, this method allows electors to rank contenders by preference rather than selecting only a single individual.

Only a couple of states use this preference-based system across their entire territory, though certain major municipalities have also adopted the practice. Proponents argue that the approach frees the electorate from strategic voting, as supporters can back their preferred choice without worrying about wasting a ballot if that person is unpopular. Advocates also state that it minimizes the spoiler effect, where lesser-known participants draw votes away from major political figures.

what is ranked choice voting in simple terms

On these ballots, participants number individuals in order of preference. If a top choice fails to secure a majority, votes transfer automatically to the second pick in subsequent tallying rounds. This procedure continues until someone achieves more than fifty percent of the remaining counted pool.

Ranked-choice voting lets electors order preferences, transferring ballots if top picks fail to gain majorities.

Critics contend that these procedures complicate voting and slower tallying can reduce public confidence in final outcomes. A recent study noted that a small percentage of such ballots can be improperly marked, though not all face invalidation.

Why it matters

Ranked-choice voting in Alaska could shape a key 2026 race, amid a US lawsuit involving two candidates named Dan Sullivan. The presence of two individuals sharing the same name has sparked controversy regarding potential voter confusion and the distribution of preferences during successive counting rounds.