"Two-Choice IRV": No ranked ballot voting equipment needed

Ryan Griffin | 
As ranked choice voting advocates know, voting equipment limitations are often the biggest obstacle to a better election method. Although many new voting equipment models have ranked ballot capability, many jurisdictions lack the resources to upgrade or replace older equipment. However, this does not necessarily remove IRV as an option for protecting voter choice and majority rule.

The following example demonstrates a form of IRV that could be used on current voting equipment. Voters would be restricted to two choices, and voters” rankings would be aggregated in pairs. Although more awkward than can be done with modern voting equipment, it shows that voting equipment is not an absolute barrier to considering adding a second choice and majority requirement to elections.

Voter instructions: Vote for one first choice candidate only. Indicate your second choice candidate or that you have no second choice by supporting your first choice on the line connected with your second choice.

  • First Choice Candidate A
    With 2nd Choice Candidate B ___
    With 2nd Choice Candidate C ___
    With NO 2nd Choice Candidate ___
  • First Choice Candidate B

    With 2nd Choice Candidate C ___With 2nd Choice Candidate A ___With NO 2nd Choice Candidate ___

  • First Choice Candidate C

    With 2nd Choice Candidate A ___With 2nd Choice Candidate B ___With NO 2nd Choice Candidate ___

A seven candidate version of this ballot can be found here .