Ranked choice voting (RCV) makes presidential primaries fairer and more accessible, promotes nominees with broad support, and ensures every voter’s voice is heard. On February 8, the Virgin Islands GOP became the first state or territorial Republican party to use RCV in a presential primary! Maine used RCV in its primaries for both parties on March 5.
Democrats in Alaska and Wyoming originally planned to use RCV as well, and included RCV in their delegate selection plans. However, they later decided not to given the small number of candidates remaining and their late primary dates.
Additionally, North Carolina Democrats, Oregon Democrats, and Democrats Abroad used RCV as part of their presidential primaries. Each used RCV to choose their parties’ delegates to the national convention. Voters still used “single-choice” voting to cast a vote for a presidential candidate.
Voting is simple
You have the option to rank several candidates in order of preference – first, second, third, and so on.
For your first choice, fill in the oval next to their name in the 1st Choice column; for your second choice, fill in the oval next to their name in the 2nd Choice column; and so on.
Ranked choice voting makes more votes count. If your top choice drops out before primary day or doesn’t get enough votes to win delegates, your vote counts for your highest-ranked candidate who is still viable.
Ranked choice voting has a record of success in presidential primaries
In 2020, five state parties used ranked ballots in the highly competitive Democratic presidential primaries. Voters engaged with the process at high rates, and no votes were wasted on candidates who dropped out before primary day – a real problem given frequently changing candidate fields and the increasing number of early and mail voters.
Compare that to the three million voters whose votes were wasted in single-choice voting states, because their chosen candidate was no longer in the running on primary day. 700,000 Republicans in 2016 and 300,000 Republicans in 2024 also cast “wasted votes” for a candidate who dropped out of the race by primary day.
See FairVote’s report on ranked choice voting in 2020 presidential primaries.