Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is simply a voting system whereby voters rank the candidates in order of preference, instead of choosing just one.
One of the most fundamental tenets of American democracy is "majority rule". When it was first drafted, the Massachusetts Constitution required a majority to be elected to public office. In 1853, with the adoption of Amendment 14, Massachusetts drifted from this principle by lowering the standard for election from majority to plurality. This was done in respose to a series of elections which failed to result in a majority winner. Although this was the best option available at the time, it had the unfortunate consequence of allowing the election of officials that the majority didn't support. Majority views represented by more than one candidate could result in a split vote and the election of an opposing candidate, a scenario known today as the "Spoiler Effect". Other states have tried to address this problem by holding runoff elections, but these are fraught with problems. IRV gives us the best of both worlds: majority winners and definitive results on election day. Not only does it eliminate the "Spoiler Effect", but also it restores the majority requirement as the MA Constitution had originally intended.
Majority means more than half (>50%), plurality means the greatest number. When there are more than two options, it's possible for the plurality to be smaller than the majority. Hence the plurality is a lower standard. For example:
| Election 1 | Election 2 |
| Alice: 60% | Alice: 35% |
| Bob: 40% | Bob: 40% |
| Cathy: 25% |
In the first election, Alice has both the majority and the plurality. In the second election, Bob only has a plurality but wins anyway because those who don't want Bob are split between Alice and Cathy. With IRV, Cathy is eliminated and Alice still wins, satisfying the majority (60%).
The current (plurality) system is unfair to the majority of voters who have to worry that the election may be decided by a small minority who tip the balance in favor of an opposing candidate
Positive issue-based campaigns will be encouraged, and negative campaigning should be virtually eliminated because candidates will know that they may have to obtain the second and third choice votes of voters supporting other candiates in order to be elected
A clearer mandate for a winning candidate's position will be created, giving better direction for policy-making
Supporters of third-party, independent, or underdog candidates will not feel they have wasted their votes in order to support their parties, issues, or candidates, but will be able to voice support for their true beliefs with their first choices, and acceptable others among the remaining candidates with their second and subsequent choices
Losing candidates, who offered valid programs acceptable to some of the voters, will not be forever tagged as "spoilers", "vote-splitters", or the "candidate that ensured the election of the candidate of the opposing party"
Voter interest and turn-out should increase because a voter has more choices and they will be able to express their true preferences.
The adoption of preferential (instant runoff) voting will be simple and not confuse the voters because the system is easy and very user-friendly - as simple as 1-2-3