Campaign Civility
Ranked choice voting (RCV) encourages civil discourse because candidates campaign not only for first- but also second-choice support. Consequently, candidates are incentivized to appeal to a broader range of voters and to avoid negative statements about opponents to reduce the risk of alienating their supporters.
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In debates in RCV races, candidates referred to their opponents in more positive terms rather than negative or neutral words, according to a 2020 study by Australian researchers.
- Effect of Instant Run-off Voting on Participation and Civility by Eamon McGinn. (July 2020).
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First-time RCV users in Santa Fe in 2018 reported more positive campaigning. 67% of poll respondents believed the tone of the mayoral election was more positive than prior mayoral elections while only 3% responded that the tone was more negative.
- Santa Fe Voters Support Ranked Choice Voting and Have High Confidence in City Elections by Fairvote. (March 2018).
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Voters in RCV cities were more satisfied with the conduct of campaigns and perceived less candidate criticism and negative campaigning compared to voters in non-RCV cities, according to a 2013 and 2014 survey. Virtually every demographic group studied reported less negativity in RCV cities.
- Socioeconomic and Demographic Perspectives on Ranked Choice Voting in the Bay Area by Sarah John and Caroline Tolbert. (April 2015).
- The survey methodology document for the Eagleton Poll is also available.
- Media coverage in RCV cities was 85% more positive than negative, according to a 2013 analysis. By contrast, 77% of news coverage in non-RCV control cities was positive.
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A 2021 analysis found that candidates were more likely to engage with each other in RCV cities than in plurality cities. Articles about campaigns in RCV cities had far more positive than negative words. This effect was not present, however, on social media.
- Using Campaign Communications to Analyze Civility in Ranked Choice Voting Elections, by Martha Kropf. (June 2021).
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To learn more, read our series on research on civility in RCV:
- Ranked Choice Voting and Civility: New Evidence from American Cities by Andrew Douglas. (April 2014).
- Ranked Choice Voting in Practice: Candidate Civility in Bay Area Elections, November 2014 by Sarah John. (February 2015).
- Ranked Choice Voting in Practice: Content Analysis of Campaign Tone in Newspapers and Twitter Feeds in 2013 RCV Elections by Sarah John. (February 2015).
- Socioeconomic and Demographic Perspectives on Ranked Choice Voting in the Bay Area by Sarah John and Caroline Tolbert. (April 2015).
