Ranked Choice Voting in the 2022 Elections

The good, the bad, and the ugly in voting reform news in the US midterms

This cycle saw an increase in the use of the systems widely known in the United States as ranked choice voting (RCV). RCV was on the winning side of several referendums in this cycle, including one on the state level in Nevada and several at the municipal level. This is, in other words, another small step forwards for voting reform efforts, although Nevada will need to pass a second referendum in 2024 before the reform can take effect.

Two examples of a ranked ballot, which is required to use RCV. RCV uses a series of plurality votes

The good news is that RCV races went smoothly, undermining the criticisms offered from people who are simply generally opposed to voting reform. The bad news is that one of RCV’s well-known theoretical limitations was visible, in particular in the election for Alaska’s House seat. The ugly news is that voting reform advocates got into an internecine struggle in Seattle.

The good

In all six high-profile (statewide or federal) races this November that used RCV, the winner in the RCV process appeared to be the same candidate who would have won with the traditional system of partisan primaries followed by a plurality…