Welcome to Vermont Votes 123

Vermont Votes 123 is a website that was put together to inform people about instant runoff voting and its use in Vermont. Please use the links on the left to find out more about this voting method, and why it is gaining popularity throughout the state.

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How Instant Runoff Voting Works

1. IRV uses ranked ballots to simulate a traditional runoff in a single round of voting. Voters rank candidates in order of preference. They may rank as many or as few candidates as they wish, with lower rankings never counting against higher rankings.

2. First choices are tabulated. If a candidate receives a majority of first choices, he or she is elected.

3. If no candidate receives a majority of first choices, the candidate receiving the fewest first choices is eliminated. Ballots cast for the eliminated candidate are now counted toward those voters' second choices.

4. This process continues until one candidate receives a majority and is elected.