Instant-runoff voting (IRV), also known as the alternative vote (AV), transferable vote, (single-seat) ranked-choice voting (RCV), or preferential voting, is a voting system used in single-seat elections when there are more than two candidates. Instead of just voting for a single candidate, in IRV voters rank the candidates in order of preference. Ballots are initially counted for each elector's top choice. If a candidate secures more than half of these votes, that candidate wins. Otherwise, whoever is in last place is eliminated from the race. On each ballot, if the eliminated candidate was given a ranking, the surviving candidates ranked lower than the eliminated one move up one slot. Candidates ranked higher on such ballots are not affected. The top choices on all the ballots are then c