When multiple candidates are vying for a local election, many community bylaws require that the candidate be elected with 50% plus one extra vote to be able to assume the office for which they are running. If this majority level is not reached, then a runoff election between the top two candidates is held at a later date. In Instant Runoff Voting [IRV], instead of having multiple elections, a voter is asked for their second and third choice of candidate.
When the votes are counted, it is the first choice votes that are tallied. If a candidate gets a majority of the votes, then the election is over. If there isn’t an overall majority, then the last place candidate is removed from the election and the second choice options for the voters of the removed candidate are used instead. This process then continues until one candidate has the majority that is needed.
The Problem is That Many People Don’t Understand This Voting Process
IRV procedures can be confusing because many jurisdictions use the traditional runoff voting method. Even if the instructions for IRV are clearly printed above an elected office and the candidates for that office, most people just vote for the one person they want. Their first-choice vote would still count, but if their candidate is eliminated, then it would be like if they had never voted.
IRV is a Lot Cheaper Than the Traditional Process
Instead of running multiple elections and needing campaign financing for them all, the only costs of the IRV are multiple counting sessions to come up with a majority candidate. This might be a disadvantage to television and radio who rely on political advertising for revenues, but it does let taxpayer money be used for causes that are community essential, like feeding hungry children.
It Allows for a Greater Voter Expression
The issue that many runoff elections face is low participation. There is a lot of concern by the average voter that their votes will just be thrown away if their preferred candidate is unable to make it into the next round. This causes many voters to wait until the final election to choose the “less evil” candidate of the two. With IRV, all voting occurs once and the voter can rank all of their preferences so that they can always have a say.
There is Greater Overall Plurality
Although no voting system is perfect, what IRV does allow is for a greater overall level of plurality. Instead of being polarized to one specific candidate and having separation within the population base because of it, more voters feel like they’ve got some skin in the game, even if their second or third choice candidate was the one that was eventually elected. It helps people work together more often – in theory, anyway.
It Might be Illegal
Instant Runoff Voting is a rather new concept, so it may actually be illegal in some jurisdictions. Some constitutions require a candidate to be elected by a clear plurality and a second choice vote being transitioned to a first choice vote does not always meet the legal standard of plurality.
