Electoral Systems Questions
The alternative vote electoral system, also known as instant-runoff voting, is a voting method used to elect a single candidate in a constituency. In this system, voters rank the candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives an absolute majority of first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the remaining candidates based on the voters' second preferences. This process continues until one candidate obtains an absolute majority and is declared the winner. The alternative vote system aims to ensure that the elected candidate has the support of a majority of voters, promoting a more representative outcome.