Choice Voting is a popular alternative way to vote that is used around the world. It works almost exactly like our current system, but allows voters to list a second choice in case their first choice does not count.
It is used to elect MPs in Australia, the president of Ireland, and many of the biggest cities around the world use choice voting including London, San Francisco, Aspen, Oakland and Memphis.
Most political parties use some version of it, including the federal Conservatives, Liberals, Green Party and the British Labour Party. They use it because it reduces tension between candidates and ensures the winner has the broadest party support.
Choice voting is also commonly known as instant run-off voting, the alternative vote, or a preferential ballot.
Choice voting is simple for voters and for elections officials.
It does not require computers or new districts, and voters can still vote like they do now if they don't have a second choice. However, it allows voters to cast a protest vote for independents, smaller parties and others in their riding without worrying about splitting the vote. Thus giving voters more ways to express how they want their country, province, or city to be run.
It also encourages candidates to cooperate with each other by encouraging their supporters to support another candidate.
Choice voting is simple. All of the votes are counted, and if no one wins a majority of the votes, one by one we eliminate the candidates with the least support and their votes can go to their second choice. It ensures that every candidate who wins receives the broadest support in their community.
No longer will voters have to choose between voting their conscious and voting for one of the more popular candidate. Now they can vote for both.
How it works
Voters write down a 1 (or an X) besides their first choice candidate. They can then mark their second choice.
All votes are counted. If no candidate gets over 50% of the votes, the last places candidates (one by one) are dropped. Their votes get moved to their second choice until one candidate gets over 50% or all others are eliminated.
A sample ballot from London (they use two "x" boxes):
