What are the benefits of ranked choice voting?

"Ranked choice voting (RCV) has several potential benefits:

1. Promotes majority support: RCV ensures that the winning candidate has the support of a majority of voters, not just a plurality. This helps to reduce the likelihood of a candidate being elected with only a small percentage of the vote.
2. Encourages positive campaigning: RCV encourages candidates to focus on issues that matter to voters and to build broad coalitions, rather than relying on negative attacks and divisive tactics. Candidates are incentivized to reach out to voters beyond their base and to appeal to a wider range of preferences.
3. Reduces vote splitting: RCV can reduce the likelihood of vote splitting, where multiple candidates with similar views run for the same office and end up splitting the vote. In a traditional first-past-the-post system, this can result in a candidate winning with less than a majority of the vote. With RCV, voters can rank their choices and ensure that their votes are not wasted.
4. Saves money: RCV can save money by eliminating the need for runoff elections or primary elections. With RCV, voters can rank their choices in a single election, which can reduce the cost and complexity of administering multiple elections.
5. Increases voter turnout: RCV has been shown to increase voter turnout in some jurisdictions. This may be because voters feel more empowered and engaged in the election process, knowing that their vote will count even if their first-choice candidate does not win.

Overall, RCV can help ensure that elections are more fair, representative, and democratic. It allows voters to express their preferences more fully and promotes a more positive, inclusive campaign culture." -ChatGPT