Start Spreading the Views: Improving Political Expression and Representation in Local Elections Using Ranked Choice Voting

Cheryl Boudreau, Jonathan Colner, Scott A. MacKenzie, Department of Political Science, University of California, Department of Government, School of Public Affairs, American University

Political Research Quarterly

Published online on May 28, 2026

Abstract

Political Research Quarterly, Ahead of Print.
Hundreds of US cities have switched from single choice to ranked choice voting (RCV) systems. In allowing voters to rank multiple candidates and eliminating fears of wasting votes on less viable candidates, RCV purports to improve both political ...