preferential voting

American  

noun

1. a system of voting designed to permit the voter to indicate an order of preference for the candidates on the ballot.

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preferential voting British  

noun

1. a system of voting in which the electors signify their choices, as of candidates, in order of preference

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Etymology

Origin of preferential voting

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Does the academy’s preferential voting system, in which members rank the best picture nominees, benefit either movie?

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

Australia uses a preferential voting system, where candidates are ranked in order of preference.

From BBC • May 8, 2025

That replaces a type of preferential voting in which voters could indicate a second choice.

From New York Times • May 2, 2024

One actually explained preferential voting well, he said.

From Washington Post • May 14, 2022

Classes A and B are elected by the member banks by a system of group and preferential voting designed to prevent the large banks from outvoting the smaller ones.

From Modern Economic Problems Economics Volume II by Fetter, Frank Albert