What is the History of Instant Runoff Voting?

Conception

Instant runoff voting (IRV) was first developed in the 1850s, by Carl Andræ in Denmark and independently by Thomas Hare in England. It has since been used in many jurisdictions around the world, including in Australian parliamentary elections since 1919. It is known by several names, including ranked choice voting, the alternative vote, and preferential voting.

Modern Use

Instant runoff elections are used throughout the states of Alaska and Maine, at local option in cities in Utah, Colorado, and Virginia, and in multiple other U.S. cities for nonpartisan local elections. In 2024, it was used in five states for the Democratic presidential primary and by the Maine and Virgin Islands GOP. 

Source: FairVote

In addition, instant runoff voting has been used in government-run primaries in New York City and Maine and in party-run primaries in Virginia and Utah. It is used by various state Republican and Democratic party organizations for their internal elections. It is also used in countries around the world.

Where is Ranked Choice Voting Used Outside of American Politics

Universities and Colleges

Rice University in Houston is one of about 100 colleges and universities around the country that use instant runoffs for student government elections. This has been a great way to introduce young Americans to a better way of voting. 

Private organizations

Many private organizations use instant runoffs to elect their leaders or make decisions. These range from professional associations to your local book club. For examples of such organizations see the FairVote website.

The Academy Awards

One of the highest profile uses of instant runoffs is at the Oscars. Since the 1930s the Academy has used RCV to choose nominees for most categories. They use RCV to choose the Best Picture winner.