How RCV Works Mechanically
Ranked Choice Voting fundamentally changes how votes are counted. Rather than simply tallying first-place votes and declaring a plurality winner, RCV uses an instant runoff process:
All first-choice votes are counted. If any candidate receives more than 50% of first-choice votes, that candidate wins outright and counting stops.
If no candidate has a majority, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated. Every ballot cast for that eliminated candidate is then transferred to whoever that voter ranked second. The process repeats—counting, eliminating the last-place finisher, transferring votes—until one candidate achieves a majority.
If a voter ranked only one or two candidates and all their choices are eliminated, their ballot becomes "exhausted" and no longer counts toward the remaining candidates. This is why voter education about ranking multiple candidates matters.
The Alaska Model: Top-Four Primary with RCV General Election
Alaska implemented the most comprehensive electoral reform in the country in 2022, combining two distinct innovations:
Nonpartisan Top-Four Primary
- All candidates regardless of party appear on a single primary ballot
- All voters, regardless of party registration, can vote for any candidate
- The top four vote-getters advance to the general election
- There are no separate party primaries—parties can no longer act as "gatekeepers"
Ranked Choice General Election
- The four primary winners compete in November
- Voters rank candidates in order of preference
- Instant runoff continues until one candidate has majority support
- 35% of eligible voters cast "meaningful votes" (ballots in competitive elections)—nearly three times the national average
- Only 12% of state legislative races were uncontested (half the rate from 2020)
- Over 80% of voters in predominantly Native districts split their ballots across parties
- 85% of Alaska voters reported RCV was "simple" to understand
- Women ran for statewide offices in 2022 at higher rates than in the five previous election cycles combined
- Independents now hold 10% of legislative seats
Political Dynamics: The system survived a repeal attempt in November 2024 by approximately 664 votes (0.21%). Native Alaskan communities, which voted 64-36% against repeal, provided the margin of victory. The system's defenders argued it allowed moderate Republicans to survive without facing partisan primary challenges from their right flank.
Implementation Pathway for New York
Current Legislative Landscape
- NYC already uses RCV for municipal primaries and special elections (approved by 74% referendum in 2019)
- A560: RCV for presidential elections
- A90: RCV for nonpartisan primaries
- A8830: Pilot program for local elections (2026-2027)
Legal Requirements
- State legislation required to authorize RCV for state and federal races
- Constitutional amendment NOT required in New York (unlike some states)
- Local option may be available for some municipal elections without state action
County-Level Strategy for Suffolk County
- Target county charter revision to allow RCV for county legislative races
- Use 2025-2026 to build coalition and draft referendum language
- Leverage NYC's successful implementation as proof of concept
- Partner with Common Cause NY, FairVote, Unite America
Voter Education Approach
- Sample ballot demonstrations at community events
- Interactive online tools showing how rankings translate to outcomes
- Municipal election pilots to build familiarity before higher-stakes races
- Multilingual outreach in district's diverse communities
Addressing Opposition Arguments
| Objection | Response |
|---|---|
| "It's too confusing" | 85% of Alaska voters found it simple. NYC implementation showed minimal invalid ballots. Compare to already-complex primary/runoff systems. |
| "It helps Democrats/Republicans" | System is party-neutral—outcomes depend on candidate quality and voter preferences. Both parties have won under RCV in various jurisdictions. Moderate Republicans (Murkowski) and Democrats (Peltola) have benefited. |
| "It violates one-person-one-vote" | Each voter casts exactly one ballot. The ballot simply contains more information about voter preferences. Courts have consistently upheld RCV against this challenge. |