Preferential Voting
Overview
Preferential Voting (선호투표) is an electoral system where voters rank multiple candidates in order of preference (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) instead of voting for only one candidate. This system is designed to determine a winner with majority support through a single vote, without the need for a runoff election. It is primarily used in countries such as Australia, Ireland, India, and Malta, and is combined with single-member districts for electing a single winner or serves as the basis for multi-member districts (Single Transferable Vote) for electing multiple winners. Preferential voting has advantages such as reflecting voters' true intentions, reducing strategic voting, and lowering the likelihood of extreme candidates being elected.
Main Content
Basic Principles of Preferential Voting
In preferential voting, voters mark rankings of 1, 2, 3, etc. for candidates on the ballot. During vote counting, first-preference votes are tallied first. If any candidate receives a majority of first-preference votes, they are immediately elected. If no candidate reaches a majority, the candidate with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated, and that candidate's second-preference votes are transferred to other candidates. This process is repeated until a candidate achieves a majority. Through this method, voter preferences are maximally reflected, and a separate runoff election is unnecessary.
Types of Preferential Voting
Preferential voting is broadly divided into two types. First, Single Transferable Vote (STV) is used in multi-member districts. Voters rank candidates, and winners are determined based on a quota (a specific number of votes). Examples include Ireland's lower house elections and Malta's general elections. Second, Instant-Runoff Voting (IRV) is used in single-winner districts. It is adopted in Australian lower house elections and some local elections in the United States. IRV effectively replaces a runoff election with a single vote.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages include: first, voters can express their true preferences, reducing strategic voting (e.g., voting for a less preferred candidate to block another). Second, it saves the cost of runoff elections and prevents voter turnout decline. Third, it lowers the likelihood of extreme or divisive candidates being elected, promoting centrist and inclusive politics. Fourth, minority opinions can be partially reflected.
Disadvantages include: first, the ballot can be complex, leading to low voter understanding. Second, the vote-counting process is complicated and time-consuming, with potential for errors. Third, when there are many candidates, the final ranking can become unpredictable. Fourth, some studies criticize that preferential voting may disadvantage female or minority candidates.
Examples from Major Countries
- Australia: Introduced IRV for lower house elections in 1918. Australian voters must rank all candidates, and failure to vote incurs a fine. The Australian Senate uses STV.
- Ireland: Adopted STV after independence in 1922 for lower house (Dáil Éireann) elections. Voters rank candidates, and those exceeding the quota are elected.
- India: Uses STV for upper house (Rajya Sabha) elections. However, the lower house (Lok Sabha) uses first-past-the-post in single-member districts.
- United States: Maine and Alaska have adopted IRV for state-level elections (e.g., U.S. House, governor). It is also used in several local governments, such as San Francisco and Oakland.
- New Zealand: Uses STV in some local elections.
Comparison with Other Electoral Systems
Preferential voting has an intermediate character between first-past-the-post (FPTP) and the two-round system (TRS). In FPTP, the candidate with the most votes wins even without a majority, while preferential voting requires majority support. In TRS, a second round is held if no candidate achieves a majority in the first round, whereas preferential voting achieves a runoff effect in a single vote. Compared to proportional representation, preferential voting has the advantage of maintaining district representation while securing some proportionality.
Recent Trends
As of 2024-2025, preferential voting is spreading globally. In the United States, following Maine and Alaska, states like Nevada and Oregon are pursuing IRV adoption, and there was discussion in some states during the 2024 presidential election. In Canada, referendums on STV adoption in British Columbia and Ontario were rejected, but civil society continues to demand reform. In the United Kingdom, a 2011 referendum on IRV adoption was rejected, but STV is used in Scottish local elections. In Australia, the 2022 general election saw advances by the Green Party and independent candidates, analyzed as an effect of preferential voting, breaking the monopoly of established parties. Additionally, advances in digital voting technology have shortened vote-counting times and reduced errors, enhancing the practicality of preferential voting. In 2025, AI-based vote-counting systems are expected to be introduced, further improving the efficiency of preferential voting.
Related Topics
- [[Two-Round System]]
- [[First-Past-the-Post]]
- [[Proportional Representation]]
- [[Single Transferable Vote]]
- [[Electoral System]]
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