Ranked choice voting explained, with a worked count
By Votense · Published 2026-10-11 · Updated 2026-10-11
Ranked choice voting lets each voter list candidates in order of preference: first, second, third and so on. A ballot counts for its first choice. If that candidate is eliminated, the ballot moves to the next remaining choice. The aim is a winner with majority support among the ballots still in the count. FairVote, an advocacy group that supports the system, describes it this way on its website, and the explanation below follows the same steps.
How the count works
- Count each ballot for the highest-ranked candidate who is still in the race.
- If one candidate has more than half of the ballots still in the count, that candidate wins. Ballots with no remaining choice are exhausted and leave the count.
- If nobody has a majority, eliminate the candidate with the fewest votes and go back to step one.
- If every remaining candidate is tied, the count is a tie. Rules for ties differ by jurisdiction, so check your own before you start.
A worked count
Nine members vote for a club treasurer among Ana, Ben and Cara. Four ballots rank Ana, then Ben, then Cara. Three rank Ben, then Cara, then Ana. Two rank Cara, then Ben, then Ana. There are nine ballots still in the count, so a winner needs at least five, which is more than half.
| Round | Ana | Ben | Cara | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | No one has five. Cara has fewest, so Cara is eliminated. |
| 2 | 4 | 5 | — | Cara’s two ballots move to Ben, who now has five of nine. Ben wins. |
Ben wins in round two with five ballots, even though Ana had the most first-place votes in round one. That is the point of the system: Ben was the choice of a majority once the ballots were transferred.
Pros and cons to weigh
| In its favour | Trade-offs |
|---|---|
| Voters can rank a favourite without wasting a vote on a fallback | Counting takes longer and needs a clear procedure |
| The winner has majority support among the ballots still in the count | Voters must understand how to rank, and mistakes on the ballot can matter |
| Designed to reduce the “spoiler” effect when several similar candidates run | Ties and exhausted ballots need rules, which vary by jurisdiction |
Running a ranked vote for a group
For a club, association or HOA board, ranked choice suits a short list of options where second choices matter, such as choosing a date, a venue or a speaker. Make the instructions plain: rank as many or as few as you like, and do not give one option two ranks. Collect the ballots through a ranking question, then count them with the ranked choice voting calculator, which runs the rounds and shows each one. The ranked vote template gives you a ready-made ballot to start from.
Your bylaws decide whether a ranked count is allowed for your group’s elections at all. Check them before you use this method for an official decision. This guide does not give legal advice on any election.
Related guides
Before you count, confirm the meeting has a quorum with the quorum guide. For other ways of counting, see plurality vs majority vs supermajority, and for the steps of a full election, see how to run a club or HOA election.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ranked choice voting and instant runoff voting?
The two names usually describe the same single-winner count: voters rank candidates, and the last-place candidate is eliminated round by round until one candidate has a majority of the ballots still in the count. Some jurisdictions and sources use the names differently, so check the rules that apply to your own election.
What happens if a voter ranks only one candidate?
The ballot counts for that candidate in the first round. If that candidate is eliminated, the ballot has no further choice and is exhausted, so it leaves the count. The free ranked choice calculator on Votense treats ballots this way.
Can I run a ranked vote in Votense?
Votense has a ranking question that collects each voter’s order. Its results show each option’s average rank and its first-place votes. It does not run instant runoff rounds, so for the round-by-round count use the ranked choice calculator with the ballots copied in.