Instant-runoff voting (IRV), also known as preferential voting

Preferential voting

Preferential voting is a type of ballot structure used in several electoral systems in which voters rank candidates in order of relative preference. For example, the voter may select their first choice as '1', their second preference a '2', and so on...

, the alternative vote and ranked choice voting, is a voting system

Voting system

A voting system or electoral system is a method by which voters make a choice between options, often in an election or on a policy referendum....

 used to elect one winner. Voters rank candidates in order of preference, and their ballots are counted as one vote for their first choice candidate. If a candidate secures a majority of votes cast, that candidate wins. Otherwise, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated.