reitinghääletus

Reitinghääletus, a term of Estonian origin, translates to rating voting or ranked-choice voting in English. It is a system of electoral choice where voters rank candidates in order of preference. Instead of selecting just one candidate, voters assign a number to each candidate, with '1' indicating their first choice, '2' for their second choice, and so on. The primary goal of reitinghääletus is to ensure that the winning candidate has broader support than they might achieve in a traditional plurality voting system where the candidate with the most votes wins, even if they don't have a majority.

The counting process in reitinghääletus typically involves several rounds. 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 next-ranked choice. This process continues until one candidate secures a majority of the remaining votes. This method aims to reduce the likelihood of "spoiler" candidates drawing votes away from more popular candidates, and it encourages voters to express their true preferences without fear of "wasting" their vote. Reitinghääletus is used in various contexts, including political elections and organizational decision-making processes, to achieve a more representative outcome.