ranked-choice voting

[ rangkt-chois voh-ting ]

noun

1. a voting system in which voters rank candidates as their first choice, second choice, etc.: If no candidate gets enough votes in the first round, the one in last place is eliminated and the remaining ones move to the next round, in which votes for the eliminated candidate are transferred to the voters' second choice. : RCV

Word History and Origins

Origin of ranked-choice voting¹

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Some voting experts are concerned the disastrous mayoral election in New York City will cause Americans to blame ranked-choice voting — rather than problems with the city's election board.

From Axios

Plenty of cities, along with the state of Maine, have embraced ranked-choice voting, designed to elect the candidate most broadly acceptable to the most people.

From Washington Post

In ranked-choice voting, one thing that’s unique is that the initial round is not necessarily determinative of the final winner.

From Washington Post

In the Democratic race for Manhattan district attorney — a county position not decided by ranked-choice voting — former state prosecutor Alvin Bragg narrowly led over former federal prosecutor and self-funder Tali Farhadian Weinstein.

From Washington Post

Wiley or Garcia would therefore need to rely on New York City’s new system of ranked-choice voting to secure a victory.

From FiveThirtyEight