The Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center (RCVRC) produces reports on ranked choice voting (RCV) implementation independently and with partner organizations.
Our Reports and Presentations page serves as a clearinghouse of reports we've produced independently and presentations given at conferences. Please contact us at info@rcvresources.org if you have questions, comments, or feedback on these resources.
RCVRC partnered with the Center for Civic Design to study the usability of RCV ballots, voter education, and results presentation. The reports they produced cataloging that research and offering guidelines for RCV material design are available below.
NEW REPORTS
RCVRC PRESENTATIONS
- What is RCV?
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In May 2019, two RCVRC staff members and Board member Dr. Robert Montjoy presented at the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) Conference held in Birmingham, Alabama. They provided attendees with information on multiple aspects of RCV, from a history of the method to the various ways RCV results are tabulated.
What is RCV? slides (pdf)
- What is Election Administration?
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RCVRC Policy Director, Chris Hughes, looks at all the moving parts that go into administering elections in the U.S., including how RCV interacts with election administration.
What is Election Admin? slides (pdf)
- What are the Alternative Voting Systems in the U.S.?
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RCVRC Executive Director, Gary Bartlett, and University of New Orleans Professor and RCVRC Board member, Dr. Robert Montjoy, gave a presentation on alternative voting methods, including RCV, at the Election Center in August 2017. This presentation is available below for those interested.
Alternative Voting Systems in the U.S. slides (pdf)
IMPLEMENTATION REPORTS
- Compilation of RCV Resources and Model Practices
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The RCV Compilation report is a collection of best practices and sample documents to help election administrators prepare for RCV elections. It is a living document that will be regularly updated with new and updated resources as we collect or create them.
Compilation of RCV Resources and Model Practices
- Model RCV Implementation Plan
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This model plan provides a broad map of the start-to-finish process of RCV, from the introduction of legislation to approve this voting method to the certification of election results. Designed as a living document, this model plan will develop as the use of RCV grows, technology expands, and more resources and information are gathered.
Model RCV Implementation Plan
- Implementation of RCV With Multiple Voting Systems
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Most states in the U.S. have a number of different types of voting systems used for their elections. Some states have a number of different voting systems manufactured by different vendors. Others use one single vendor but have different models of voting equipment from that vendor. This report outlines potential implementation models for states based on their voting system setup. Available below is also a table outlining the current RCV capabilities of the voting systems from the four largest voting system vendors: Dominion, Election Systems & Software, Hart InterCivic, and Unisyn.
Implementing RCV Statewide and Across Jurisdictions When Multiple Voting Systems Are Used (pdf)
Table of Voting System RCV Capability (Excel)
USABILITY REPORTS
In 2016, RCVRC and FairVote partnered with the Center for Civic Design (CCD) to research best practices for RCV ballot design, voter education, and presentation of results. CCD wrapped up the first phase of that research in December 2016. The Principles and Guidelines Report (2017) provides principles and guidelines for designing RCV ballots, voter education, and presentation of results. We have included the testing documents that CCD used for each phase of testing below.
- The RCV Election Results Display Demonstrations website is an interactive version of the Results Presentation template CCD created, with both fictional and real-life election results included. Real elections include:
- NYC Democratic Mayoral Race, June 2021
- Brooklyn (Kings County) Democratic Borough President Race, June 2021
- NYC Council District 10 (Manhattan) Race, June 2021
- Queens, NYC City Council Special Election for District 31 Race, February 2021
- Santa Fe, NM Mayoral and City Council District 4 Races, March 2018
- Berkeley, CA City Council District 2 Race, November 2016
- Minneapolis, MN Mayoral Election, November 2013