Implementing Choice Voting
Implementing a ranked choice voting (RCV) system requires election
officials to be cognizant of certain differences between ranked ballot
systems and typical plurality or winner-take-all systems. From voting
equipment to voter education, ranked choice systems may bring changes
to a community's election system and practices. FairVote's Ranked Voting Guidelinesdocument therefore serves to illustrate the various components
necessary to successfully implement an RCV election, using either the
instant runoff or choice voting method.This document specifies
guidelines for the conduct of ranked voting elections, where ranked
voting includes both instant runoff voting (IRV) for single-winner
contests and choice voting for multiple-winner contests. This document
includes ballot, tabulation, reporting, manual audit, and recount
guidelines. The guidelines for computer tabulation and hand tabulation
are treated separately where appropriate. [DOWNLOAD RANKED VOTING GUIDELINES - .pdf]
Jurisdictions purchasing equipment and states appropriating funds for
equipment should also ensure that the new equipment gives the jurisdiction
maximum flexibility to adopt any legal voting system. Ranked voting
elections can be conducted with all kinds of voting equipment. Most
modern
voting equipment is compatible with all voting systems and ballot types but will generally have to be retrofitted or upgraded in order to make the equipment ready to use different voting systems and ballot types. The only way to ensure
machine readiness is to include a provision in the Request for
Proposals or appropriations bill. This will not add to the cost of the
equipment in most cases, but it could save the cost of an expensive
upgrade in the future.