What is Ranked Choice Voting, and why does it matter?
Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is a small change to the way we vote that produces big improvements to the election process.
On the ballot, voters rank candidates in the order they prefer (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.). If their first-choice candidate does not receive enough votes, your vote counts towards their second choice, and so on, until a candidate has a true majority (over 50%). Because of this, RCV ensures that your vote counts every time.
Benefits:
Guarantees that elected officials have a true majority support
Increases competition and empowers voters with more choices
Reduces negative campaigning
Avoids the "lesser of two evils" dilemma and "spoiler” candidates
Eliminates Run-Off elections, saving taxpayer money
How Does Ranked Choice Voting Work?
Here's a sample ballot. This can be expanded to any number of candidates and also enables write-ins.
If a candidate obtains a majority (more than 50%) of first-choice votes, they win outright. If no candidate gets a majority, the one who got the fewest votes is identified, and each of those candidate’s ballots is redistributed to the voter's second-choice pick.
If that was your vote, it still counts: it just moves to your second-choice candidate. That process continues if necessary until there is a candidate who has a true majority of votes.
Need more? Check out this video! Ranked Choice Voting Video
Why does VCAZ want to implement RCV in Arizona?
We advocate for the implementation of Ranked Choice Voting in the general election, paired with an open primary (which includes equal signature requirements for all potential candidates). We believe this approach ensures that electoral outcomes better reflect the will of Arizona voters, ultimately contributing to improved outcomes for our state.