Ranked-choice voting in the United States

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Ranked-choice voting (RCV) can refer to one of several ranked voting methods used in some cities and states in the United States. The term is not strictly defined, but most often refers to instant-runoff voting (IRV) or single transferable vote (STV).

RCV is used for state primary, congressional, and presidential elections in Maine; and for state, congressional, and presidential general elections in Alaska. It is used for local elections in 47 US cities including Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Cambridge, to name a few.^[1] It is also used by the Virginia, Utah, and Indiana Republican parties in state conventions and primaries.^[2][3][4] As a contingency in the case of a runoff election, RCV ballots are used by overseas voters in six states.^[1]

RCV is used in American non-governmental elections as well. Examples include student elections at approximately 95 colleges and universities, along with elections for officers in professional associations, such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars), American Chemical Society, American Philosophical Association, and Society of Actuaries.^[1]

Between 1912 and 1930 limited forms of RCV, typically with only two rankings, were implemented but later repealed,^[5] as has also occurred in some cities in the 21st century.^[6][7][8]