The 2021 mayoral race in New York City marked a turning point. For the first time, voters ranked their preferences instead of picking just one candidate. Eric Adams emerged victorious after multiple rounds of vote counting, but the real winner was ranked choice voting itself. What started as an experiment in a handful of progressive cities has now spread to over 50 jurisdictions nationwide, with more adopting the system every election cycle.
Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting just one. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their supporters’ second choices are redistributed. This process continues until someone reaches a majority. The system promises to reduce negative campaigning, increase voter choice, and ensure winners have broader support.
Cities Leading the Charge
Minneapolis pioneered ranked choice voting for municipal elections in 2009, followed by San Francisco and Oakland. But the real acceleration began after 2016. Maine became the first state to implement ranked choice voting for federal elections in 2018, surviving a repeal attempt and a court challenge.
Alaska followed with a more comprehensive approach, combining ranked choice voting with open primaries for all state and federal elections starting in 2022. The system helped elect Democrat Mary Peltola to Congress from a traditionally Republican state, demonstrating how ranked choice voting can produce unexpected outcomes when candidates appeal beyond their base.
Cities across the political spectrum have embraced the reform. Burlington, Vermont used ranked choice voting from 2006 to 2010 before repealing it, then brought it back in 2021. Santa Fe, New Mexico adopted it for municipal elections in 2018. Even conservative-leaning cities like Eastpointe, Michigan implemented ranked choice voting to resolve federal voting rights litigation.
The momentum extends beyond individual adoptions. Nevada passed legislation in 2021 to implement ranked choice voting statewide, pending voter approval of a constitutional amendment in 2024. Similar efforts are underway in over a dozen other states, driven by bipartisan coalitions frustrated with polarized politics.
Solving Real Electoral Problems
Proponents argue ranked choice voting addresses fundamental flaws in American elections. Traditional plurality voting can produce winners with less than majority support, especially in crowded fields. The 2010 Maine gubernatorial race exemplified this problem when Republican Paul LePage won with just 37.6% of the vote while two other candidates split the remaining 62.4%.
The system also reduces the “spoiler effect” that discourages third-party candidates and limits voter choice. In traditional elections, voting for a preferred minor candidate risks helping elect your least favorite major candidate. Ranked choice voting eliminates this dilemma by allowing voters to support their true first choice while still expressing a preference between major candidates.
Data from implemented systems shows promising results. A 2019 study of ranked choice voting elections in the San Francisco Bay Area found that negative campaigning decreased significantly compared to traditional elections. Candidates spend more time building broad coalitions rather than mobilizing their base against opponents.
Voter satisfaction surveys consistently show higher approval ratings for ranked choice voting elections. Exit polls from the 2021 New York City mayoral primary found that 77% of voters found the ballot easy to complete, despite initial concerns about complexity.
The system particularly benefits candidates who can appeal across traditional partisan or demographic divides. In Oakland’s mayoral elections, ranked choice voting has consistently produced winners who performed well in diverse neighborhoods, rather than candidates with geographically concentrated support.
Implementation Challenges and Adaptations
Despite growing adoption, ranked choice voting faces significant obstacles. Election administrators must invest in new equipment and training. Ballot design becomes more complex, requiring careful attention to voter education and interface design.
Some jurisdictions have struggled with the transition. Moab, Utah repealed ranked choice voting in 2019 after technical difficulties in their first election. The city’s voting equipment couldn’t handle the ranked ballots, forcing a manual count that delayed results for days.
Cost remains a barrier for smaller jurisdictions. While larger cities can spread implementation costs across many races, rural counties often lack the resources for new voting systems. Some states are exploring centralized processing to help smaller jurisdictions adopt ranked choice voting without major infrastructure investments.
Political resistance also persists. Establishment politicians from both parties sometimes oppose ranked choice voting, fearing it will empower challengers who can build broader coalitions. This dynamic mirrors broader tensions within party establishments, similar to how young conservative movements challenge Republican orthodoxy on various policy fronts.
Legal challenges have emerged in several states. New Hampshire’s legislature passed a bill banning ranked choice voting in municipal elections, though several cities continue pushing for adoption. Tennessee and Florida have also restricted or banned the practice, creating a patchwork of varying state policies.
Technology and Voter Education
Modern voting technology has made ranked choice voting more feasible than ever. Electronic voting systems can process ranked ballots instantly, providing results on election night rather than requiring days of manual counting. This addresses one of the main practical objections to the system.
Voter education campaigns have become increasingly sophisticated. Cities now use online simulators, sample ballots, and community workshops to familiarize voters with the ranking process. Social media campaigns feature video explanations and interactive tools that let users practice ranking candidates.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated interest in mail-in voting, which pairs well with ranked choice voting. Voters have more time to research candidates and make thoughtful rankings at home, rather than making quick decisions in voting booths.
Research shows that voter understanding improves with experience. First-time users may undervote or bullet vote (ranking only one candidate), but subsequent elections show more complete ballot utilization. This learning curve suggests that implementation benefits compound over time.
Digital organizing tools have also transformed advocacy efforts. Groups like FairVote and Unite America use sophisticated data analysis to identify promising jurisdictions for ranked choice voting campaigns. They target cities with recent plurality winners or histories of negative campaigning.
The Path Forward
Ranked choice voting adoption shows no signs of slowing. Seattle will implement the system for its 2025 municipal elections after voters approved it in 2022. Portland, Oregon is preparing for ranked choice voting in 2024, combined with expanded city council districts.
Federal legislation remains unlikely given congressional polarization, but state-level momentum continues building. Advocacy groups are focusing on ballot initiatives in states with favorable direct democracy provisions. These campaigns often attract bipartisan support from voters frustrated with negative campaigning and limited choices.
The success of Alaska’s comprehensive system could provide a template for other states. By combining open primaries with ranked choice voting, Alaska created a more moderate electoral environment that rewards coalition-building over base mobilization.
As American politics continues fragmenting, ranked choice voting offers a potential path toward less polarized governance. Whether it can fulfill that promise depends largely on continued successful implementation and voter satisfaction in the cities and states now serving as laboratories for electoral democracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does ranked choice voting work?
Voters rank candidates in order of preference, and if no candidate gets a majority, the lowest vote-getter is eliminated and their supporters’ second choices are redistributed until someone reaches a majority.
Which cities use ranked choice voting?
Over 50 jurisdictions use ranked choice voting, including New York City, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Oakland, and Santa Fe, with more adopting it each election cycle.
