What is Instant Runoff Voting?
Q: What is Instant Runoff Voting?
A: Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is a method of electing one political candidate to office from a list of more than two, but it can also be used for other group decisions. Voters rank the candidates from favorite to least favorite, with only their top choices being counted each time. Ballots are counted, and a series of simulated rounds is conducted until a candidate has a majority.
Q: How long has IRV been used in Australia's lower house?
A: IRV has been used in Australia's lower house for more than 80 years.
Q: What do proponents believe about IRV?
A: Proponents believe that IRV allows them to vote for their first choice candidate and still help the lessor of evils if the first choice is eliminated. They also believe that it is the only way let voters vote their true intentions and undermine the two-party system by having more candidates on the ballot, making incumbents more likely to be kicked out of office.
Q: What do opponents argue about IRV?
A: Opponents argue that if at least three candidates have a chance of winning, voting for one's favorite could cause a compromise candidate to lose in the first round; their favorite might then lose against the least preferred candidate in the second round; and votes cannot be transferred to their second choice if their second choice is eliminated before their first choice is.
Q: Does voter turnout typically change with IRV compared to plurality voting?
A: Voter turn out typically remains unchanged when using IRV compared to plurality voting.
Q: Why do opponents often oppose computer counting ballots with IRV?
A: Opponents often oppose computer counting ballots because it is difficult for ordinary citizens to count them by hand and catch any fraud or errors that may occur during counting process.
Q: How does IRV affect centrists in elections?
A:Instant runoff voting can eliminate centrists in later elimination rounds as they are squeezed out on both sides of the political spectrum due to voters' preference towards extreme ends of politics over centrist views..
