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Why Use IRV Replace Plurality Elections Replace Runoff Elections Replace Primary Elections Military and Overseas Voters

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Ballots for Military and Overseas Voters

Problem: If an election calendar places a primary or runoff too close to the general election, it becomes difficult to print and mail ballots to overseas voters and have them returned in time to be counted. Some states address this problem by extending the time between election rounds, but this lengthens the campaign season for voters at home. Sending multiple ballots to overseas voters also creates an unnecessary expense for election administrators.

Solution: Under IRV, voters rank candidates in order of preference on a single ballot. If a candidate receives a majority of first choices, he or she is elected. If no candidate receives a majority, the candidate with the fewest first choices is eliminated. Voters who ranked the eliminated candidate first now have their ballots counted for their second choice. This process continues until one candidate earns a majority.

Overseas voters receive a single ballot and are able to rank their choices. Their first choices are counted in the first election round. If a runoff is necessary, these ballots continue to count for their first choice if that candidate has advanced to the runoff. If the first choice candidate did not advance, these ballots now count toward the choice of the highest-ranked remaining candidate. Overseas voters only need to fill out one ballot and do not have to worry about sending a second ballot back on time. Election administrators only need to send one ballot overseas.

Louisiana, South Carolina and Arkansas all successfully use IRV for overseas military voters.