preferential ballot

A preferential ballot is a voting system where voters rank candidates in order of preference rather than just selecting one. When counting votes, if no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Voters who chose that candidate have their second-choice votes counted instead. This process continues until a candidate secures a majority. This method allows for more nuanced voter preferences and can lead to outcomes that better reflect the overall desire of the electorate, often reducing the impact of vote-splitting among similar candidates.