Claim: Ranked choice voting undermines our democratic system.
False
Ranked choice voting has gained traction as an alternative voting system in recent years. While its success requires significant voter education efforts, there is no evidence to suggest that it undermines our democratic system or rigs elections.
Tom Fitton, a conservative activist, tweets that “Ranked choice voting” is an awful public policy that can undermine our democratic system on August 17, 2022.
Following the results of Alaska’s special election for the House, Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas tweeted, “Ranked choice voting is a scam to rig elections.” This claim was echoed in a number of tweets and opinion pieces.
Ranked choice voting requires that a winning candidate must carry at least 50% of the vote. Here is how it works: in a ranked-choice voting system, voters rank the candidates on the ballot in their order of preference. Initially, the voter’s first choice of candidate is counted. If one candidate receives a clear majority, they win the election. If not, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated, and their supporters' second choice of candidate is counted and added to the tally. This process continues until a winner with a majority can be declared.
Ranked choice voting (RCV) is currently used at the State level in Maine and Alaska. It is also used in over 50 different cities, including New York City, and for military and overseas voting in Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina. RCV receives bipartisan support in many parts of the country.
RCV is different from most elections in the US, which follow a plurality vote, or winner-takes-all system. In a plurality vote, there is a single round of counting, and the candidate with the highest percentage of votes wins the election. This number need not exceed 50%.
Supporters of RCV argue that the system allows for majority rule, with better representation of voters. For example, in plurality elections contested by multiple candidates with similar, majority-held views, the vote is easily split across candidates. Voters may end up with a winner who does not represent their ideology, simply because that candidate was able to consolidate a larger share of the vote. RCV eliminates this effect, by allowing a ranking of candidates that ensures a winner who is better aligned to the wishes of the voters. This also demonstrates the greater choice RCV affords to voters, allowing them to choose a candidate without fear of splitting the vote for another.
Opponents argue that the system is too complex and potentially confusing to voters. Most areas implementing RCV are prioritizing voter education campaigns. Alaska’s voter education plan included mock elections and an app in multiple languages, while New York City also invested in language access and outreach partnerships with community organizations. Following the recent election in Alaska, exit surveys showed 80% of voters found the system simple to understand.
Inadequate voter education could lead a voter to list a single candidate on their ballot, and efforts must be made to ensure all voters are aware of preferential ranking. However, voters have the right to list only one candidate on their ballot if they choose. As with plurality elections, they would do so with the knowledge that their preferred candidate may not win.
Overall, voter education campaigns are crucial to ensuring how RCV works. There is no evidence to show that ranked-choice voting rigs elections or undermines our democratic system. This claim is false.
References and Further Reading:
Amanda K. Moser. Alaskans for Better Elections. Polling Shows Alaskan Voters Understand Ranked Choice Voting. 30 August 2022.
FairVote. Where is Ranked Choice Voting Used? September 2022.
FairVote. Plurality-Majority Systems. Accessed on 20 September 2022.
Gail Fenumiai. Division of Elections, State of Alaska. Ranked Choice Voting Education Campaign Launches With Mock Elections Today. 1 June 2021.
Matt Vasilogambros. Stateline, Pew Charitable Trusts. Ranked Choice Voting Gains Momentum Nationwide. 12 March 2021.
National Conference of State Legislatures. Ranked-Choice Voting. 11 June 2022.
Office of the Mayor, City of New York. New York City to Launch $15 Million Ranked Choice Voting Education Campaign. 28 April 2021.
Samantha Maldonado. The City. Did Ranked Choice Voting Work in NYC? 20 July 2021.
State of Maine. Ranked-choice voting in Maine: Frequently Asked Questions.
