Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is a simple upgrade to how we already vote in Georgia. With IRV, instead of marking one choice on your ballot, you rank your choices by preference, first, second, third, etc. As a result, runoff elections are not needed. We can run them instantly! If a candidate receives more than half of the first-choice votes, they win from just first-choice rankings. If not, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and any voter who picked that candidate as their first choice will have their vote count for their next choice. This process continues until a candidate wins with more than half of the votes.

IRV is just like conducting a runoff election but voters only need to come out to vote once! This saves time and money for voters and taxpayers. Further, voters are free to vote their conscience supporting whichever candidate they like most knowing their vote won't get wasted. Another benefit is that candidates are rewarded for gaining broad support. If they can't get your first rank, they want your second. This encourages more positive campaigning and leads to a more representative government. In total, it gives voters more choice and empowers their voice. It's is a common sense solution for a healthy democracy.

Watch this short video to see how Ranked Choice Voting (a.k.a. Instant Runoff Voting) works.

For a longer explanation of IRV and its benefits, check out our IRV 101 seminar:

Check out our FAQ to learn more about IRV.