A voting method in which voters indicates their choices in ranked order (first choice, second choices, etc.). The first choices are then counted. The winner is required to have a majority of the votes tallied. If no candidate has a majority, the candidate receiving the fewest number of first-choice votes is eliminated and the ballots are retallied. On any ballot containing a first choice for the eliminated candidate, the second choice is elevated to first choice. The tally proceeds in this manner until some candidate has a majority. Up to ties, this method must produce a winner. Clear tiebreaking rules must be announced in advance. The runoff is referred to as "instant" since no additional voting is required (i.e. no runoff election) since the winner can be determined by pure computation from the ballots already cast. A "system of voting whereby voters may rank three or more candidates for the same office in order of preference, so that voters may indicate a first choice, a second choice, and so on for as many of the candidates for the office as they wish, up to the maximum number of choices allowed." Wash. House Bill 1390 (2003). See also CHOICE, CONTINUING BALLOT, EXHAUSTED BALLOT, NEXT CHOICE, LAST PLACE CANDIDATE, REMAINING CANDIDATES, Abbreviated Also STAGE. IRV. PREFERENCE VOTING, RANKED CHOICE VOTING, RANKED ORDER VOTING.
Understand more election terms clearly
Get one important election term explained each week, with authoritative sources, practical context and related definitions.
A voting method in which voters indicates their choices in ranked order (first choice, second choices, etc.). The first choices are then counted. The winner is required to have a majority of the votes tallied. If no candidate has a majority, the candidate receiving the fewest number of first-choice votes is eliminated and the ballots are retallied. On any ballot containing a first choice for the eliminated candidate, the second choice is elevated to first choice. The tally proceeds in this manner until some candidate has a majority. Up to ties, this method must produce a winner. Clear tiebreaking rules must be announced in advance. The runoff is referred to as "instant" since no additional voting is required (i.e. no runoff election) since the winner can be determined by pure computation from the ballots already cast. A "system of voting whereby voters may rank three or more candidates for the same office in order of preference, so that voters may indicate a first choice, a second choice, and so on for as many of the candidates for the office as they wish, up to the maximum number of choices allowed." Wash. House Bill 1390 (2003). See also CHOICE, CONTINUING BALLOT, EXHAUSTED BALLOT, NEXT CHOICE, LAST PLACE CANDIDATE, REMAINING CANDIDATES, Abbreviated Also STAGE. IRV. PREFERENCE VOTING, RANKED CHOICE VOTING, RANKED ORDER VOTING.
Cite this term
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Instant Runoff Voting. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 21, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/instant-runoff-voting
Sources
01
High consensus
02
Multi-source
Get the weekly election term
Receive one cited, source-backed election explanation in your inbox each week.