Runoffs See 63% Decline in Voter Turnout, Report Finds

In 2024, primary runoffs cost states at least $7m and most runoff winners got fewer votes than in the first round

December 17, 2024 – Every 2024 federal primary runoff had lower turnout than the first round, with turnout falling by a median of 63%, according to a new FairVote report. 81% of candidates who won runoffs received fewer votes in the runoff than they did in the first round, effectively negating the runoff’s purpose. Ranked choice voting – also known as “instant runoff voting” – is a better alternative, capturing the majority’s preferences in a single election when turnout is highest. 

The 2024 primary season saw the largest runoff turnout decline since FairVote began tracking runoffs in 1994. And these low-turnout elections come at a high cost to taxpayers – at least $6.9 million and likely $9-12 million this year, even though there were no statewide primary runoffs. A Kennesaw State University study found that the 2020 statewide U.S. Senate runoffs in Georgia cost the state $75 million. 

“With runoff elections, we pay more to get less – weeks more of toxic campaigning and dramatically fewer voters actually heard at the polls. In most cases, runoff winners get fewer votes than they did in the first round of voting,” said Deb Otis, FairVote Director of Research and Policy. “Ranked choice voting is a faster, cheaper, better alternative. That’s why dozens of cities and states already use it in place of runoffs, including for military voters in Southern states.”  

Additional findings from the report include: 

• In the 294 federal primary runoffs in 10 Southern states from 1994 to 2024, turnout has decreased from the primary to the runoff in 97% of contests – by a median of 41%. 
• Turnout decline has been steadily increasing each cycle. 
• In the 16 federal primary runoffs in 2024, turnout decreased by a median of 63%. 
• Every 2024 primary runoff was decided by a margin smaller than the number of first-round voters who chose to stay home. 

Ranked choice voting (RCV) is a faster, cheaper, and better “instant runoff” that doesn’t require voters to return to the polls, candidates to campaign for another month, or taxpayers to pay for another election. Research shows that RCV also reduces the negative campaigning that is incentivized and intensified by one-on-one runoffs. 

Cities like New York, Minneapolis, and Salt Lake City have used ranked choice voting to replace runoffs or two-round municipal elections. Six Southern states (AL, AR, GA, LA, MS, and SC) already allow their military voters to use ranked choice voting in case of runoffs – rather than vote a second time, these voters return a ranked ballot and their vote is counted for their highest-ranked candidate in the runoff.

The full report is available here. 

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FairVote is a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections for all. We research and advance voting reforms that make democracy more functional and representative for every American.