Instant Runoff Voting

Presented By: Deborah Markowitz

Vermont Secretary of State

An election reform that is starting to catch on.

• Was endorsed by 53 Vermont towns through non-binding resolutions

• Was recently adopted for Municipal Elections by voters in San Francisco

• Has passed charter amendments in other municipalities

• Is being considered for statewide use in an August referendum in Alaska

• Has been introduced as bills in over a dozen state legislatures

Instant Runoff Voting...

Plurality Elections

Advantages

• No runoff is ever needed

Problems

• The majority choice is often not elected

Whichever candidate gets the most votes wins. Most U.S. elections use plurality rules.

Winner

Plurality Rules

Winner

But majority prefer A over B

Second Election Runoffs

Advantages• Assures a majority winner

Problems• Added taxpayer expense for second election• Added candidate expense for secondary campaigning• Very low voter turnout for runoff• Difficult to administer• Potential compromise candidate could be eliminated

If no candidate receives a majority, all candidatesbut the top two are eliminated.

A second electionis conducted between the finalists.

What Is Instant Runoff Voting?

• Method of voting that requires a majority to elect a candidate

• Determines a majority winner by conducting instant runoffs using voter preferences until one candidate has a majority

• Cheaper and more efficient than second elections

Instant Runoff Voting

• Assures majority rule - a true mandate from the voters

• Voters go to the polls only once

• Less expensive than a second election runoff

• Eliminates the spoiler problem

Voters specify their order of preference for candidates.

Ballots are tallied through a series of instant runoffs until the majority winner is determined.

How IRV WorksDeclare a winner

No majority

Eliminate lowest candidate

Retally Ballots

Is there a majority winner?

Yes

No

Tally All Ballots

Voters Vote Their Preferences

IRV - Typical Ballot

The voter is presented with a list of all candidates and given the option of specifying his or her orderof preference for candidates.

The voter may choose to give just a first preference.

Ballot for Office

IRV- Proposed Vermont Ballot

This ballot has been

tentatively approved by

my elections office for

use if Vermont passes its

pending IRV bill.

IRV From Two Perspectives

Instant runoff voting can determine a majority winner in a single election, which:

• saves money• eliminates hassle• maximizes voter turnout• allows for the possibility of a compromise candidate

Instant runoff voting:

• restores majority rule• eliminates the spoiler

problem• may reduce mud-slinging

campaigns

States that already use runoff elections

States that use plurality elections

IRV Concerns

• Too complicated for votersReality: IRV makes sense with voter education

• Creates headaches for election administrationReality: No burden on local election officials

• Voting equipment cannot handle the ballotsReality: Modern equipment can handle it

NOTE: It is important to assure your state’s new equipment has this flexibility, in order to protect the capital investment.

Instant Runoff Voting

For more information contact:

Vermont Secretary of Statewww.sec.state.vt.us(802) 828-2363

Center for Voting and Democracy

www.fairvote.org