Ranked choice voting (RCV) is a proven voting method that has been used for major elections in the U.S. and other countries for over a century. Multi-winner RCV was invented in the 1850s, as a proportional representation system to be used in multi-winner elections. In the 1870s, it was adapted to the single-winner form. It is sometimes referred to as “instant runoff voting," “preferential voting,” "proportional representation," "single transferable vote" and a number of other names.
Current Use in U.S. Elections
| City, State | Year Adopted | Election Contest | Multi- and/or Single-Winner RCV? | Resource Folder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley, CA | 2004 (first use 2010) | Mayor, City Council, City Auditor | Single-Winner | Berkeley & Alameda County Resources |
| Cambridge, MA | 1941 | City Council, School Board | Multi-Winner | Cambridge Resources |
| Maine | Passed 2016 (first use 2018) | U.S. House and Senate Primary and General Elections, Statewide and State Assembly Primaries | Single-Winner | Maine Resources |
| Minneapolis, MN | 2006 | Mayor, City Council, Park Board, Tax Board | Single- and Multi-Winner | Minneapolis Resources |
| Oakland, CA | 2006 (first use 2010) | Mayor, City Council, City Attorney, City Auditor, School Director | Single-Winner | Oakland & Alameda County Resources |
| Portland, ME | 2010 | Mayor | Single-Winner | Portland Resources |
| San Francisco, CA | 2002 | Mayor, City Attorney, Board of Supervisors, Sheriff, District Attorney, Treasurer, Assessor-Recorder, and Public Defender | Single-Winner | San Francisco Resources |
| San Leandro, CA | 2009 (first use 2010) | Mayor, City Council | Single-Winner | San Leandro & Alameda County Resources |
| Santa Fe, NM | Passed 2008 (first use 2018) | Mayor, City Council, Municipal Judge | Single-Winner | Santa Fe Resources |
| St. Paul, MN | 2009 | Mayor, City Council | Single-Winner | St. Paul Resources |
| Takoma Park, MD | 2006 | Mayor, City Council | Single-Winner | Takoma Park Resources |
| Telluride, CO | 2008 | Mayor | Single-Winner | Telluride Resources |
Military and Overseas Voting
| State | Year Adopted | Election Contest | Notes | Resource Folder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 2005 | Federal Runoffs; Local Runoffs | Adopted via Statute | UOCAVA Resources |
| Alabama | 2013 | All Federal runoffs | Adopted by Court Order | UOCAVA Resources |
| Louisiana | Early 1990s | State and Federal General Election Runoffs | Also includes out of state military voters living in United States | UOCAVA Resources |
| Mississippi | Mid 2000s | Federal Runoffs | Adopted to deter Department of Justice Suit | UOCAVA Resources |
| South Carolina | 2006 | State and Federal Runoffs | UOCAVA Resources | |
| Springfield, IL | 2007 | Local, State, Federal Runoffs | First used in 2011 | UOCAVA Resources |
Future Use in U.S. Elections
| City, State | Year Adopted/Anticipated | Election Contest | Notes | Resource Folder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst, MA | Passed 2018, Use Beginning 2021 | Town Council | Multi-Winner | |
| Benton County, Oregon | Passed 2016, Use Beginning 2020 | Countywide Elections | Single-Winner | Benton County Resources |
| Basalt, CO | Passed 2002, Not Yet Necessary in a Race | Mayor | Single-Winner | Basalt Resources |
| Carbondale, CO | Passed 2002, Not Yet Necessary in a Race | Mayor | Single-Winner | |
| Davis, CA | Advisory Vote 2006, No RCV Law Yet in Place | City Council | Multi-Winner | |
| Ferndale, MI | Passed 2004, Pending Implementation | Mayor, City Council | Single-Winner | |
| Las Cruces, NM | Passed 2018, Use Beginning 2019 | City Elections | Single-Winner | |
| Memphis, TN | Passed 2008, Pending Implementation | City Elections | Single-Winner | Memphis Resources |
| Saint Louis Park, MN | Passed 2018, Use Beginning 2019 | City Elections | Single-Winner | |
| Santa Clara County, CA | Advisory Vote 1998, No RCV Law Yet in Place | Board of Supervisors | Single-Winner | |
| Sarasota, FL | Passed 2007, Pending Implementation | City Commission | Single-Winner | Sarasota Resources |
| Vancouver, WA | Advisory Vote 1999, No RCV Law Yet in Place | Any city elections | Single-Winner |
Past Use in U.S. Elections
| City, State | Year Adopted/Repealed | Election Contest | Notes | Resource Folder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | Adopted 1974, Repealed 1976 | Mayor | Single-Winner | |
| Aspen, CO | Adopted 2007, Repealed 2010 | Mayor; Two City Council Seats | Single-Winner | |
| Burlington, VT | Adopted 2005, Repealed 2010 | Mayor | Single-Winner | Burlington Resources |
| Cary, NC | Pilot Program in 2007, 2009, Pilot sunset in 2011 | City Elections | Single-Winner | Cary Resources |
| Hendersonville, NC | Pilot Program in 2007, 2009, 2011, Pilot sunset in 2011 | City Elections | Single-Winner | Hendersonville Resources |
| North Carolina | Used in 2010, Repealed as part of election code overhaul in 2013 | Judicial Vacancy Elections (County- and State-Wide) | Single-Winner | North Carolina Resources |
| Pierce County, WA | Adopted 2006; Replaced with Top Two in 2009 | County Offices | Single-Winner |
Ranked Choice Voting in Other Countries
| Country | Year Adopted | Election Contest | Notes | Resource Folder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1918; 1948 | Senate, House of Representatives, State Assembly Elections | Single-Winner for House; Multi-Winner for Senate; Both Used at State Level | International Resources |
| Fiji | 1999 | Parliament | Single-winner. Used in 1999, 2001, and 2006. Now using a closed party list form of proportional representation. | Research paper on RCV in Fiji |
| Malta | 1921 | Parliament; Local Government; EU Parliament | Multi-Winner | |
| New Zealand | 1992 | Local Health Boards; Some Local Councils | Multi-Winner | |
| Northern Ireland | 1921 (Parliament of Northern Ireland); 1973 (local elections); 1979 (EU parliament) | Local Elections; National Assembly; EU Parliament | Multi-Winner | International Resources |
| Papua New Guinea | 2007 | Parliament | Single-winner | |
| Republic of Ireland | 1921 | Parliament; President; Local Elections; EU Parliament | Single- (President) and Multi-Winner (all other elections) | |
| Scotland | 2007 | Local Council Elections | Multi-Winner | International Resources |
| UK | Various | All Directly Elected Mayoral Elections | Modified Single-Winner | International Resources |