1. What is Ranked Choice Voting?
2. Why should Massachusetts adopt Rank Choice Voting?
3. How do we get Rank Choice Voting in Massachusetts?
4. How are the votes counted?

1. What is Ranked Choice Voting?

Ranked Choice Voting (also known as "Instant Runoff Voting") is a method of voting which ensures that the winning candidate is the one most preferred by voters, regardless of how many candidates are in the race. It ensures that no one is throwing away their vote by voting for the candidate they agree with, and it eliminates fears about "spoilers" taking votes away from other candidates. It works by letting each voter rank the candidates s/he likes in order of preference (1st, 2nd, 3rd), instead of voting for just one candidate. If your first choice loses, your vote is reassigned to your second choice candidate.

2. Why should Massachusetts adopt Ranked Choice Voting?

Majority rule. A democratic election result should reflect the majority opinion of voters. Under the current system, elections with three or more candidates can be won with less than a majority. Ranked Choice Voting would ensure that an election winner has support from a majority of voters.

More Voices, More Choices. Fear of "spoilers" taking votes away from front-runners or incumbents prevents many candidates from running, and discourages voters from supporting such candidates. This barrier limits the exchange of ideas during the campaign season, limits the choices voters have at the ballot box, and makes it harder for voters to hold politicians accountable.

True Preference. Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to express their true preference without having to make a tactical choice based on who they think is likely to win. It preserves the vote as a truly democratic expression.

Civil Debate. Candidates will want to win second choice votes from the supporters of other candidates. This rewards candidates with a positive message and deters candidates from smearing their opposition.

Save Time and Money. Holding two elections is much more expensive than one. Preliminary elections cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars and draw a tiny percentage of registered voters. They also require each voter to make an extra trip to the polls, which costs time and even money for those who have to take time off work to vote. Ranked Choice Voting has all the benefits of holding both a preliminary and general election, but streamlines the process into a single election.

Voter Turnout. Preliminary elections often have extremely low turnout. Low turnouts can cause unpredictable results that do not correspond to the will of the larger electorate. We can't make people vote at preliminary elections, but we can solve this problem altogether by using Ranked Choice Voting and eliminating the preliminary election.

3. How do we get Ranked Choice Voting in Massachusetts?

There are a few different ways to make Ranked Choice Voting a reality. One way is to start talking to supporters in your local area. Sign our volunteer form and we'll connect you to fellow supporters in your community, and keep you abreast of ways that you can help the campaign.

4. How are the votes counted?

The term "Instant Runoff Voting" is sometimes used to describe the counting process. First choices on all ballots are counted. If there are two candidates, the candidate receiving the most 1st choice votes wins. If there are three or more candidates and no one candidate receives a majority, the candidate with the fewest 1st choice votes is eliminated and his/her votes are reassigned to the remaining candidates based on the second choice marked on each ballot. (If your 1st choice candidate isn't eliminated, your vote remains.) The process continues until there are only two candidates remaining, and the winner takes a majority. Here is a simple flowchart to illustrate the process.