Ranked-choice voting by state
In ranked-choice voting, voters rank the candidates. If no one wins a majority of first choices, the last-place candidate is eliminated and those ballots go to their next choice, until someone passes 50%. Alaska and Maine use it statewide; 19 states have banned it.
- Statewide (2)
- Some cities or elections (15)
- Banned (19)
- Not used (14)
On the 2026 ballot
Statewide (2)
Alaska (General elections after a top-four primary; a repeal was on the 2026 ballot) · Maine (Federal elections and state primaries)
Some cities or elections (15)
California (San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and others) · Colorado (Boulder, Fort Collins and others) · Hawaii (Special congressional elections) · Illinois · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota (Minneapolis, Saint Paul and others) · New Mexico · New York (New York City primaries) · Oregon (Portland, Multnomah and Benton counties) · Utah (City pilot program, 2019–2025) · Vermont · Virginia · Washington (Seattle primaries, planned from 2027)
Banned (19)
Alabama · Arkansas · Florida · Idaho · Indiana (Banned in 2026) · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Mississippi · Missouri (Banned by voters in 2024) · Montana · North Dakota · Ohio (Banned in 2026) · Oklahoma · South Dakota · Tennessee · West Virginia · Wyoming
Not used (14)
Arizona · Connecticut · Delaware · Georgia · Nebraska · Nevada (Voters rejected it in 2024) · New Hampshire · New Jersey · North Carolina · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · Texas · Wisconsin
Questions and answers
How is ranked-choice voting counted?
First choices are counted. If no one passes 50%, the last-place candidate is eliminated and those ballots go to their next marked choice. This repeats until someone has a majority.
Which states have banned it?
19 states, most since 2022: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wyoming.
Where else is it used?
In the District of Columbia for all its elections since 2025, and in cities such as New York, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon.
Ranked-choice voting in the glossary · Primary types
Sources: Wikipedia, "Ranked-choice voting in the United States"; Ballotpedia (Indiana and Ohio bans, March 2026). 2026 results: civicAPI.