On Tuesday, Wisconsin voters went to the polls in an extraordinary primary for governor. On the Democratic side, the leading candidates – David Crowley and Francesca Hong – were separated by about 4,000 votes. Meanwhile, 165,000 votes went to other candidates – including 68,000 votes for candidates who were no longer in the race.

“Zombie” votes – votes cast for candidates who withdraw from a race before Election Day – are a significant problem in our elections, and they’re becoming more common as more Americans vote early or by mail. If you cast an early ballot for a candidate who drops out – after you’ve already voted, but before primary day – you essentially have no say.

Margin of victory vs. votes for withdrawn candidates

Ranked choice voting (RCV) solves that problem by letting voters rank backup choices, and also ensures majority winners in crowded fields. If their favorite candidate drops out (or doesn’t have a chance to win), their vote counts for whomever they ranked next.

Late shakeups led to more zombie votes for Wisconsin governor

Zombie votes are most common when candidates drop out late in a campaign. By the time Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez dropped out for the Wisconsin governor primary in mid-July, over 68,000 ballots had been cast. By the time former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes dropped out on July 30, nearly 120,000 ballots had been cast. Any voters who selected Rodriguez, Barnes, or Missy Hughes – who had dropped out in June – had no way to change their vote, and no say between the remaining candidates.

Zombie votes are a nationwide problem that affects both parties. For instance, in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, more than 3 million people cast votes for candidates who had withdrawn from the race – including tens of thousands in Wisconsin. 700,000 Republicans in 2016, and 300,000 Republicans in 2024 cast zombie votes as well.

With ranked choice voting, voters need not worry about reading the tea leaves in a shifting field; if their first choice drops out, their vote counts for their next choice. This ensures every voter has a say in the election, no matter when they vote.

Fewest votes wins in Wisconsin primary

Even without zombie votes, the Wisconsin governor primary still wouldn’t have had a majority winner. Roughly 96,500 voters picked Kelda Roys or Joel Brennan – 25 times the number of votes separating the frontrunners. Those 96,500 voters effectively had no say in the choice between Crowley and Hong.

Results of the Wisconsin Democratic governor primary

Ranked choice voting solves this problem as well. If a candidate doesn’t have a chance to win, they are eliminated; voters who ranked them first have their vote count for their next choice. This makes more votes count in the choice between finalists, and ensures winners have support from a majority of voters.

By comparison, Crowley enters the general election with fewer than 40% of Democrats behind him. Research shows that candidates who win their primaries without majority support are less likely to win in general elections – especially important in a purple state like Wisconsin. 

There’s no way to know who voters would have ranked as their backup choices, or how those rankings may have affected the race. But if Wisconsin used RCV, the winner – whether Crowley, Hong, or someone else – would have done so with a majority of Democrats behind them, putting the party in a better position for the general election.

Ranked choice voting makes waves in Wisconsin

Wisconsin leaders have already shown support for ranked choice voting . Earlier this year, State Senator Mark Spreitzer and Representative Clinton Anderson introduced legislation to bring RCV to Wisconsin elections. Spreitzer and Anderson pointed to majority winners, more candidate choice, and issue-focused campaigning as compelling reasons to improve Wisconsin elections with RCV.

To learn more about RCV in the Badger State, visit Voters First Wisconsin. To help bring RCV to your community, find an RCV group near you!

This content is for educational and informational purposes only. FairVote is a 501(c)(3) organization and does not support or oppose any candidate for elected public office.