What is the preferential voting electoral system?

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What is the preferential voting electoral system?

The preferential voting electoral system, also known as ranked-choice voting or instant-runoff voting, is a voting method in which voters rank candidates in order of preference on their ballots. In this system, if no candidate receives an absolute majority of first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the remaining candidates based on the voters' next preferences. This process continues until one candidate achieves a majority and is declared the winner. The preferential voting system aims to ensure that the elected candidate has the support of the majority of voters and allows for a more nuanced expression of voter preferences.