What is irv?

IRV (Instant Runoff Voting) is a voting system used to elect a single candidate from a group of multiple candidates. It is also known as Ranked Choice Voting. In IRV, voters rank the candidates in order of preference, instead of selecting just one candidate. After the initial count, if one candidate has more than 50% of the vote, they are declared the winner. If not, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed according to the second choice of those voters. This process is repeated until a candidate obtains more than 50% of the vote. IRV is used in various countries such as Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, and in certain US states and cities. It aims to ensure that the majority’s choice is reflected in the election result.