Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is gaining attention as an alternative to the traditional “first-past-the-post” electoral system, especially during the lead-up to the 2024 elections. RCV has the potential to make elections more competitive and ensure winners reflect the will of a broader base of voters. It also offers an opportunity to move beyond the limitations of two-party dominance, paving the way for a more representative and inclusive system.
Those participating in RCV elections rank candidates in order of preference instead of selecting just one candidate. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes are redistributed based on second-choice preferences. This process will continue until a candidate secures a majority. The policy behind RCV is that it reduces “spoiler” candidates and vote splitting, which can distort election outcomes; it also encourages a more diverse selection of candidates, leading to results that better reflect the broader choice of the voters.
While RCV promises more representative outcomes, its complexity may pose challenges, especially in terms of voter education. It’s important for voters to have clear information about how to rank candidates and how their votes will be counted. In addition, the counting process in RCV can be more time-consuming, raising concerns about efficiency and the timely certification of election results. Despite these challenges, many believe that RCV can lead to fairer and more representative elections.
In ALI CLE’s upcoming webcast, two election law experts will offer legal insights into and takeaways from the 2024 Election, including election system reform (like RCV). Other topics to be discussed include the changing landscape of the voting process, election certification, gerrymandering, campaign finance, recount procedures, and election litigation.
If you want to find out more, registration is open for our December 12th webcast, Legal Insights and Takeaways from the 2024 Election.
To find our more about ALI CLE’s in-person courses or webcasts, or to check out on-demand CLE, click here.