Proportional Ranked Choice Voting
Rank up to All, Multi-Winner [>=5]
PR-RCV is similar to RCV except there are multiple winners. This can be accomplished by increasing the number of winners per district OR by combining several districts into one larger district.
Test Your Knowledge
This Webpage and Video Have a Quiz you can take to test your knowledge and understanding of the content. This lesson is part of a larger education series.
Processing Proprotional Ranked Choice Results
Like in Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), the candidate with the least votes is eliminated first and their voters 2nd choice votes are redistributed. This process repeats until all available seats have been filled or there are no candidates remaining. However, if someone has MORE than the required number of votes, those extra votes get distributed before elimination. Extra votes MUST be redistributed before elimination or there will be proportion errors in the final result.
| Rank | Candidate Selection |
|---|---|
| 1st Choice | |
| 2nd Choice | |
| 3rd Choice | |
| 4th Choice | |
| 5th Choice | |
| 6th Choice | |
| 7th Choice | |
| 8th Choice | |
| 9th Choice | |
| 10th Choice | |
| Candidate | Faction | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 🟧 Orange | 170,000 | (20%) |
| A | - 🟥 Red | 30,000 | 3% |
| D | 🟨 Yellow | 110,000 | (20%) |
| E | - 🟨 Yellow | 90,000 | 9% |
| F | 🟩 Green | 120,000 | (20%) |
| C | - 🟧 Orange | 70,000 | 7% |
| A | - 🟥 Red | 10,000 | 1% |
| G | 🟦 Blue | 200,000 | (20%) |
| J | 🟪 Purple | 80,000 | (15%) |
| I | - 🟦 Blue | 20,000 | 2% |
| G | - 🟦 Blue | 40,000 | 4% |
| H | - 🟦 Blue | 10,000 | 1% |
| · | Dropped | 50,000 | 5% |
PR-RCV Vote Share
For this Sample Ballot there are Five (5) seats available. Therefore, a Candidate must get 100% divided by 5 (or 20%) to win.
PR-RCV Outcome
The candidate with the least votes is eliminated first and their voters 2nd choice votes are redistributed.
PR-RCV Seat Control
This process repeats until all available seats have been filled or there are no candidates remaining.
PR-RCV Committee Control
In this Sample Ballot, B🟧(Orange), D🟨(Yellow), F🟩(Green), G🟦(Blue) , and J🟪(Purple) were able to get seats thanks in part to their primary supporters, and in part to supporters in different factions.
Processing Proprotional Ranked Choice Results
Like in Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), the candidate with the least votes is eliminated first and their voters 2nd choice votes are redistributed. This process repeats until all available seats have been filled or there are no candidates remaining. However, if someone has MORE than the required number of votes, those extra votes get distributed before elimination. Extra votes MUST be redistributed before elimination or there will be proportion errors in the final result.
PR-RCV Round 1
G🟦(Blue) has more than the required number of votes and is the first winner, receiving a seat. No candidates are eliminated yet, as G🟦(Blue) has 24% of the vote.
PR-RCV Round 2
I🟦(Blue) receives 4% from G🟦(Blue), which is added to I🟦(Blue)’s initial 2%, bringing its total to 6%. H🟦(Blue), having only 4%, is now the candidate with the fewest votes and is set to be eliminated.
PR-RCV Round 3
H🟦(Blue) transfers 1% to I🟦(Blue), increasing I🟦(Blue)’s total to 7%. The remaining 3% from H🟦(Blue) is dropped. This leaves A🟥(Red) with 5%, making it the next candidate to be eliminated.
PR-RCV Round 4
All 5% from A🟥(Red) is transferred to B🟧(Orange), raising B🟧(Orange) to 22%. From this, 2% is transferred from A🟥(Red)’s third-choice voters to C🟧(Orange) bring it to 10%. This leaves I🟦(Blue) with a collective 7%, making it the next candidate to be eliminated.
PR-RCV Round 5
All of I🟦(Blue)’s votes (2%), the 4% from G🟦(Blue), and 1% from H🟦(Blue) are transferred to J🟪(Purple), bringing J🟪(Purple) to 15%. This leaves E🟨(Yellow) with 9%, making it the next candidate to be eliminated.
PR-RCV Round 6
D🟨(Yellow) reaches 20% and gets a seat. C🟧(Orange) is the next to be eliminated.
PR-RCV Round 7
7% from C🟧(Orange) and 1% from A🟥(Red) transfer to F🟩(Green), bringing F🟩(Green) to 20%, securing a seat. The remaining 2% are drop, bringing the total dropped votes to 5%. J🟪(Purple) is the last candidate standing with 15% and is the final winner.
Touching on Party List Systems
Voters are compelled to vote for the preferred candidate OR attempt to override the party by achieving a higher threshold. This system seems proportionally representative of the voters, but it is not. It is proportionally representative of the parties.
Closed Party List systems
Candidates are pre-approved by the party or there is a separate exclusive Primary system before the election. The voters cannot select their candidates.
Semi-Open Party List systems
the Party/Faction leaders are still substituting their will for the will of the voters in most cases. Voters can attempt to override party leadership by achieving a higher threshold.
Open Party List Systems
Voters can have more control over direct candidate selection. However, this occurs within the party list itself. Crossing preferences into other party candidates and independent candidates is still near impossible and impractical.
Addressing Autocratic Concerns
Autocracies criticize imperfect democracies for being internally divisive. Their media criticizes disunity, escalating Brinkmanship. They are right.
PR-RCV is One-Party Compatible
PR-RCV is compatible with One-Party, and No-Party Systems as it pays attention to Individuals, not Factions.
PR-RCV protects against disunity in One-Party States
The ability for voters to cross faction lines ensures no faction can get so much power as to lead to disunity among the general population.
PR-RCV empowers local leadership in One-Party States
In systems with only one faction or no faction, the ability for locals to choose specific individuals brings experience and insight not available to distant centralized party leadership.
A More Representative Way: Proportional Ranked Choice Voting (PR-RCV)
No other system comes close to having the final outcome match the voters interests.
Protects Diversity
Supports all political groups all the time.
Breaks Deadlocks
Resolves stalemates in two-party systems using unrepresentative voting methods like First Past the Post.
Enhances Efficiency
Improves the functioning of one-party/No-Party states by removing unproductive incentives in autocratic systems.
Empowers Party Members
PR-RCV Supports all political groups all the time.
Increases Leverage for Legislators
Provides individual legislators more power to represent their jurisdictions in negotiations with faction leadership.
Ensures Neutrality
Enables speakers, chairs, civil officers, and non-political appointees to remain truly neutral by balancing political pressures.
Promotes Cooperation
Encourages cooperative behavior and reduces combative behavior by creating a balanced political environment by making single faction majorities unlikely.