Järjestushääletus

Järjestushääletus, also known as preferential voting or ranked-choice voting, is an electoral system where voters rank candidates in order of preference. Instead of casting a single vote for one candidate, voters number candidates on the ballot: 1 for their most preferred, 2 for their second most preferred, and so on.

The counting process for järjestushääletus aims to elect a candidate who has broad support. If no candidate receives an outright majority of first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. The votes for that eliminated candidate are then redistributed to their second-preference choices. This process of elimination and redistribution continues until one candidate achieves a majority of the remaining votes.

Järjestushääletus is designed to avoid "spoiler effects," where a minor candidate can draw votes away from a more popular candidate with similar views, potentially leading to the election of a candidate neither group strongly supported. By ranking preferences, voters can still support their preferred minor candidate while ensuring their vote can transfer to a more electable candidate if their first choice is eliminated.

This system is used in various forms around the world and in different contexts, including some political elections and organizational decision-making processes. Its proponents argue it leads to more representative outcomes and encourages candidates to appeal to a wider range of voters.