New Report: Ranked Choice Voting Empowers Candidates and Voters of Color

Photo by Steve Rhodes on Flickr
Published: 17 Jan, 2024
Updated: 18 Jun, 2025
3 min read

A new report by FairVote sheds light on the positive impacts of ranked choice voting (RCV) on candidates and voters of color. The comprehensive study analyzed 448 RCV elections over two decades, revealing key findings that highlight the benefits of this voting system.

From increased support for candidates of color to the avoidance of vote-splitting, the report breaks down RCV's use as a powerful tool for improving representation across the board in elections. 

FairVote is a long-time advocate of RCV -- particularly, the proportional form of the alternative voting method. Its report underscores how historically marginalized and underrepresented communities experience notable success in RCV elections.

For example, the report spotlights the New York City, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, and St. Paul city councils. Under RCV, the majority of the seats in these councils are now filled by people of color.

The first Alaska Native elected to Congress was also elected in an RCV election.

"As ranked choice voting grows across the country, it is delivering on its promises of representation,” said Deb Otis, FairVote’s Director of Research and Policy and co-author of the report. 

“Candidates of color are running and winning in RCV elections. Candidates are building majority coalitions through positive campaigning and consolidating – rather than splitting – the power of their community. Voters of color are taking advantage of the opportunity to rank, and don’t feel forced to vote for the ‘lesser of two evils.’"

There are four key takeaways from FairVote's report.

Candidates of Color Benefit from the Counting Process

The counting process under RCV allows candidates of color to gain more support as lower-performing contenders are eliminated. In single-winner RCV races, these candidates significantly increase their vote share between the first and final round of tabulation at a much higher rate across the board. 

IVP Donate

No Penalties for Running Against Other Candidates of Color

RCV enables several candidates of color to run in the same race without the fear of "splitting the vote." When a candidate of color is eliminated, the study reveals that ballots are more likely to transfer to other candidates of the same ethnicity. This consolidation, rather than splitting, enhances the collective power of the community.

The report notes that the median Black candidate earned 6% more votes than expected when other Black candidates were eliminated, emphasizing the effectiveness of this system in ensuring fair representation.

Voters of Color Are More Likely to Rank the Candidates

Research indicates that voters of color tend to engage more actively in the electoral process when RCV is implemented. Case studies, such as the 2022 Oakland mayoral race, demonstrate that Black and Hispanic or Latino voters rank more candidates on average than white voters. RCV provides voters of color with the opportunity to express their preferences without feeling forced to choose the "lesser of two evils."

Across the Board Support for RCV

FairVote highlights broad support for RCV among naturalized citizens and permanent residents. A digital survey conducted in May 2023 revealed that an overwhelming 81% of these population groups support ranked choice voting. Black and Hispanic or Latino respondents expressed the highest levels of support, emphasizing the broad appeal of RCV across diverse communities.

 

New York City Council Member Amanda Farias says she is proud to be a part of a majority-people of color city council and the first-ever New York City Council that has a female majority. She believes it is no surprise that it happened in RCV elections.

“This report confirms what those of us who've run in ranked choice contests have already experienced: Voters and candidates of color win with RCV," she said.

"For candidates, ranked choice voting is an opportunity to be more collaborative and get your message out in a positive way. For voters, it's an opportunity to participate more actively in the process and get real representation."

Let Us Vote : Sign Now!

RCV is the fastest growing voting reform in the country. FairVote reports that as of November 2023, the voting method spans 50 jurisdictions across the nation, including 2 states (Alaska and Maine). Combined, these areas are home to over 13 million people. 

More states, counties, and cities will take up RCV's use in 2024, including Nevada -- which could become the third state to use RCV for statewide elections if voters approve the Final Five Voting measure that combines its use in general elections with nonpartisan primaries in November.

Related articles

Time Square at night.
Why Do New York City Elections Look Like Such a Mess?
For the third time in history, New York City voters used ranked choice voting (RCV) to determine their party nominees in Tuesday’s citywide primary elections. First implemented in 2021, the system was used in that year’s highly competitive Democratic primary, where Eric Adams ultimately secured the nomination and went on to become mayor. It was used again in 2023 without incident....
24 Jun, 2025
-
10 min read
Stack of I voted buttons.
RCV Advocates Say Charlottesville’s First Ranked Choice Election Delivers on Promise of Diverse Representation
Tuesday marked a historic election for Charlottesville, Virginia, as the city used ranked choice voting (RCV) for the first time in a competitive Democratic primary. RCV advocates say the results offer a compelling case for the system’s potential to increase representation and voter satisfaction....
19 Jun, 2025
-
4 min read
I voted sticker being put on someone.
Republican Joins Democrats in Maine to Give Voters More Choice
Showing an independent streak in keeping with Maine’s political tradition, Sen. Rick Bennett (R–Oxford) broke ranks with his party this week to join 91 Democrats in supporting a bill that would finally fulfill the will of Maine voters: implementing ranked choice voting (RCV) in all state general elections....
13 Jun, 2025
-
7 min read

Latest articles

Donald Trump standing behind presidential podium and in front of two American flags.
Has Trump Made His Case for the Nobel Peace Prize?
A news item in recent days that was overshadowed in the media by SCOTUS and the One Big Beautiful Budget Bill was a US-brokered peace agreement that was signed between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – which if it holds will end a conflict between the two countries that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands of people....
30 Jun, 2025
-
7 min read
Picture of skyscraper in New York behind a bridge.
Knives Come Out Against Reform at NYC CRC Hearing as Independents Rise
Last week in Staten Island, the NYC Charter Revision Commission held its next-to-last public hearing. As Commissioner Diane Savino commented, addressing NYC's closed primary system “is the single biggest issue we’ve heard this year.”...
30 Jun, 2025
-
3 min read
Zohran Mamdani
New York's Mayoral Race: Why Mamdani Has to Beat Cuomo Twice
Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani defeated establishment favorite Andrew Cuomo for the Democratic nomination in New York's mayoral race, marking a clear victory for the party’s progressive wing....
30 Jun, 2025
-
1 min read