Organizations and Corporations Using Ranked Choice Voting

Recommended by Robert’s Rules of Order for organizational elections conducted by mail, ranked choice voting (called “preferential voting” in Robert’s rules or "instant runoff voting") is used widely among organizations. Here is a partial list of such organizations, updated in March 2009. Organizations that use ranked choice voting for multi-seat elections are listed as "multi-winner." (If you know of additions, please send a note as well as a link to the organization to irv@fairvote.org)

Highlighted Uses of Instant Runoff Voting by Organizations and Corporations

  • American Association of University Women (President, Vice President) - Founded in 1881 to advocate for education and equity; approximately 100,000 members, 1,000 branches, and 500 college/university institution partners.
  • American Geophysical Union (President, General Secretary and International Secretary) - A worldwide scientific community that advances, through unselfish cooperation in research, the understanding of the Earth and space for the benefit of humanity.
  • American Medical Student Association (President, Vice President for Membership, Vice President for Finances, Secretary, Vice President for Programming) - The oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States.
  • American Mensa (Chairman, First Vice-Chairman, Second Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer) - Organization for people who score in the top 2 percent of the general population on an accepted standardized intelligence test; over 50,000 members.
  • American Philosophical Association (all Pacific and Eastern Division elections) - Founded in 1900, it is the main professional organization for philosophers in the United States.
  • American Political Science Association (President) - Founded in 1903, it is the leading professional organization for the study of political science and serves more than 15,000 members in over 80 countries.
  • American Psychiatric Association (all elections with two or more candidates) - Its more than 38,000 members worldwide work to ensure humane care and effective treatment for all persons with mental disorder.
  • American Psychological Association (President, Divisional Representatives to the Council of Representatives, six Members-At-Large of the Executive Committee) - A scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States; the largest association of psychologists worldwide, with approximately 150,000 members.
  • Canadian Wheat Board (Board of Directors) - The largest single seller of wheat and barley in the world, holding more than 20% of the international market.
  • Consortium of College and University Media Centers (President, Secretary, Treasurer, Directors) - A dynamic organization whose mission is to provide leadership and a forum for information exchange; over 750 members representing all sizes of institutions in higher learning.
  • Green Party of the United States (Secretary, Treasurer, Co-charis; multi-winner) - Co-chairs are elected using the multi-seat form of ranked choice voting by means of the “Droop” method.  This requires that the total number of votes are divided by the number of seats plus one.  A candidate must pass this threshold to be elected.  A number of other ancillary Green Party organizations incorporate choice voting.
  • League of American Bicyclists (Board of Directors) - promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation and work through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League also conducted a mock multi-winner ranked choice voting election for the five best cyclists of all time, the results of which can be found here under the "How does the voting system work" subheading.
  • National Forensic League (all elections) - an educational honor society that encourages American high school students to become proficient in public speaking.
  • National Organization for Women (Regional Board Members, President, Vice President - Executive, Vice President - Action, Vice President - Membership) - Founded in 1966, NOW is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States, with more than 500,000 contributing members and more than 500 local and campus affiliates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
  • Quota International (all elections) - Founded in 1919, Quota International is one of the oldest international service organizations for women, with 6,000 members.
  • Pacific Palisades Community Council (all elections) - The Council  plays an important role in local government in Los Angeles, serving as a forum for discussion and advocating for the community.
  • The Society of Actuaries (Board of Directors)-The Society of Actuaries (SOA) is the largest actuarial professional organization in the world.


Other Uses of Instant Runoff Voting by Organizations and Corporations

 

*The Heisman Trophy, NCAA polls, and various other sports awards use a form of ranked voting known as the Borda count, where each ranking is given a certain point value.
**Federal Reserve regional directors are elected by the Bucklin form of ranked voting where all second choices are added to the totals of all first choices.

More

See the list of universities and colleges that use instant runoff voting