Challenges Facing Ranked Choice Voting

This year has not been kind to ranked choice voting (RCV).

RCV lets voters rank candidates instead of selecting just one. Multiple rounds of counting take place, adjusting rankings as needed, and “exhausted” ballots are set aside to find the winner.

There’s a growing backlash against this voting method—lawmakers, courts, and voters alike are voicing their discontent. It seems to complicate elections and, I think, create some level of mistrust.

So far, two states have formally banned RCV. One state scrapped its pilot program, while Michigan’s effort to put forth a statewide proposal failed to qualify. Additionally, several city councils opted against it, and the state Supreme Court dismissed an expansion bill. It’s worth noting that we still have months left in the year.

Indiana and Ohio are the states that enacted bans on RCV this year. In Ohio, a ban was introduced in 2023 but initially only passed the Senate. However, this year, bipartisan support from lawmakers led to it passing both chambers—thanks to Senators Teresa Gavarone and Bill DeMola. Republican Governor Mike DeWine signed the bill, which will come into effect in February.

Indiana’s process moved even more quickly. A similar ban was introduced and took effect just two months later. Concerns were raised that RCV could undermine election transparency and voter trust.

State Sen. Blake Doriot (R), who sponsored the legislation, mentioned, “We need to make sure Indiana’s voting system is secure and reliable for Hoosier voters. Ranking candidates could end up skewing votes away from a voter’s chosen candidate, leading to confusion.” It’s something to think about, isn’t it?

Meanwhile, Utah’s supporters of RCV faced disappointment as their pilot program concluded this year. Over 20 cities participated, yet the advocates weren’t able to achieve broader state acceptance before the program ended.

In Michigan, the Ranked MI Ballot Initiative found itself 200,000 signatures short of meeting the necessary requirements. For RCV advocates, I suppose there’s a small silver lining: at least they won’t need to shell out millions again for another failed ballot measure after similar setbacks in six states in 2024.

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, RCV was also turned down. The city council voted 6-3 against it. The proposal’s backers argued that moving away from the current runoff system would save money, but worries about upgrading the system, staff training, and the need for a comprehensive public education campaign ultimately led to its failure. Similar attempts fell flat in Vista, California, and Appleton, Wisconsin.

Things don’t look great in the District of Columbia either. Although voters approved RCV, the city is finding it tough to prepare for its implementation. Residents experienced their first use of the system in June, and a recent Opportunity DC Survey revealed that 43% of voters are still unaware of the change. To combat this confusion, the Election Commission is set to spend $50,000 on voter education.

In response to the challenges, D.C. City Councilman Wendell Felder has proposed emergency legislation to delay implementation until 2027. However, the bill was unsuccessful, allowing little time for voters and election officials to get ready.

Add to that Maine, where efforts to expand RCV were struck down in March after the state Supreme Judicial Court deemed the law unconstitutional. RCV is still limited to federal elections in Maine due to constitutional stipulations requiring plurality in state elections.

It’s interesting, really. Every year, supporters of ranked-choice voting promise a simpler, fairer, and more reformed electoral process. Yet, the unfolding events of this year often suggest quite the opposite. There’s a notable shift in sentiment as more lawmakers, courts, cities, and voters seem to be moving away from a system that many find confusing and untrustworthy.