Second Choice Polling Series (2015 - 2016)
Please note that this content was published several years ago and some of the information may not be updated. For up-to-date information on election reform, see our pages on ranked choice voting and proportional representation.
The 2016 Republican presidential primary was crowded, competitive, and divisive. It was also affected by the phenomenon of ‘vote splitting.’ No candidate received more than 50% of the total votes.
Throughout the campaign, FairVote published a series of analyzes about how polling for voters’ second choices sheds deeper insight on how the electorate feels about candidates, and how the results may have differed with ranked choice voting.
Below is a list of the articles that were part of that series.
Trump moves into majority position in GOP nomination contest Rob Richie, March 23, 2016
Ranked choice poll of GOP voters yields insights Molly Rockett, March 14, 2016
New polls show that GOP split vote problem continues Rob Richie | March 08, 2016
Simulating instant runoff flips most Donald Trump primary victories Andrew Douglas, Rob Richie, Elliot Louthen | March 04, 2016
Without an instant runoff, Trump favored to win GOP nomination Rob Richie | February 26, 2016
The South Carolina Republican primary: is Trump the majority choice? Rob Richie | February 17, 2016
Rubio passes Cruz and Trump in simulated RCV primary Andrew Douglas, Molly Rockett | February 05, 2016
Cruz retains lead in final Iowa RCV simulation Andrew Douglas, Molly Rockett | February 01, 2016
Why O’Malley second choices matter in Iowa – and Huckabee’s may not Rob Richie | January 29, 2016
Cruz takes big lead in Iowa RCV simulation Molly Rockett | January 15, 2016
Rubio surges past Trump in simulated New Hampshire primary with RCV Molly Rockett | January 08, 2016
National RCV primary would leave Trump and Cruz in dead heat Andrew Douglas | December 23, 2015
Simulated RCV primary shows how Trump has real competition for GOP majority Andrew Douglas | December 18, 2015
Ranked choice polling gives fuller picture of voter choice Drew Penrose | September 22, 2015
Walker Bows Out: Where Will His Supporters Go? Molly Rockett | September 21, 2015
Second-choice poll sheds light on Florida voters Molly Rockett | September 17, 2015
Smart Ranked Choice Polling in the Presidential Race by PPP: New Poll Clarifies Nature of Donald Trump’s Support Molly Rockett | September 01, 2015
Second Choices Mean a Second Chance to Determine Real GOP Frontrunner Molly Rockett | July 24, 2015