Who Uses IRV?

IRV is used on the municipal, state, and national level in governments around the world, as well as by non-governmental organizations and corporations.

U.S. governments currently using IRV:

  • Arkansas (adopted 2005, first used 2006; overseas voters in runoffs)
  • Aspen, CO (adopted 2007, first used 2009; mayor and multi-seat variation for city council)
  • Burlington, VT (adopted 2005, first used 2006; mayoral elections)
  • Hendersonville, North Carolina (adopted 2007 and 2009 as pilot; multi-seat variations for city council)
  • Louisiana (adopted and first used 1990s; overseas and military voters in federal and state runoffs)
  • Pierce County, WA (adopted 2006, first used 2008; county executive, county council and most other county offices)
  • San Francisco, CA (adopted 2002, first used 2004; mayor, Board of Supervisors and most city offices)
  • South Carolina (adopted and first used 2006; overseas voters in federal and state runoffs)
  • Takoma Park, MD (adopted 2006, first used 2007; mayor and city council)

Upcoming (as of March 2009) implementations:

  • Berkeley, CA (adopted 2004; scheduled for November 2010 for mayor and city council)
  • Memphis, TN (adopted 2008; scheduled for 2011 for mayor and several other city offices)
  • Minneapolis, MN (adopted 2006; scheduled for November 2009 for mayor and city council)
  • Oakland, CA (adopted 2006; scheduled for November 2010 for mayor and city council)
  • Springfield, IL (adopted 2007; scheduled for November 2011 for overseas voters)
  • Telluride, CO (adopted 2008; scheduled for November 2011 for mayoral elections)

Advisory, Option or Contingent Measure in the United States:

  • Ferndale, MI (adopted 2004)
  • Santa Clara County, CA (adopted 1998)
  • San Leandro, CA (adopted 2000)
  • Santa Fe, NM (adopted 2008)
  • Sarasota, FL (adopted 2007)
  • Vancouver, WA (adopted 1999)
*Ann Arbor (MI), New York (NY), Yonkers (NY) and Cary (NC) have used IRV in the past.

**Cambridge (MA) uses a similar ranked voting system for its city council elections, but it is the choice voting method of proportional voting where each of the nine winners needs a little more than 10% of the vote. Davis (CA) passed an advisory measure in 2006 in favor of this system.