eelistushääletus

Eelistushääletus, 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 begins by counting all first-preference votes. If a candidate receives more than half of the first-preference votes, they are declared the winner. If no candidate reaches this threshold, the candidate with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated. The votes for the eliminated candidate are then redistributed to the voters' second-preference choices. This process of elimination and redistribution continues until one candidate secures a majority of the remaining votes.

Eelistushääletus aims to ensure that the winning candidate has broader support among the electorate compared to plurality voting systems, where a candidate can win with less than 50% of the vote. It is intended to reduce the chances of "spoiler" candidates and encourage more positive campaigning, as candidates may seek second or third preference votes from supporters of other candidates. This system is used in various countries and jurisdictions for different types of elections, including parliamentary and local elections.