A key feature of ranked choice voting (RCV) is that it increases the power of voters to cast a ballot that is meaningful to the outcome of an election. In traditional choose-one elections, people who vote for non-frontrunners may feel that their vote is wasted because it has minimal impact on the outcome. RCV gives voters the option to rank candidates in order of preference, eliminating wasted votes and ensuring that every vote can count toward the outcome of the race.

This report aims to identify any practices that limit the number of voters whose ballots are counted in the final round of RCV races. It explores whether certain ballot designs lead to more inactive ballots or disqualifying errors, examines technological limitations and legal requirements that reduce the number of choices voters may indicate, and concludes with recommendations for RCV implementation to ensure maximum voter participation and power.