Electoral Competition, Turnout, and Ranked Choice Voting

We compare multi-candidate elections under plurality rule versus ranked choice voting (RCV). In our framework candidates choose whether to pursue a narrow campaign that targets their base, or instead pursue a broad campaign that can appeal to the entire electorate. We present two main results comparing RCV to plurality. First, RCV can intensify candidates’ incentives to target their core supporters at the expense of a broader appeal. Second, RCV may increase the probability that a candidate who would lose any pairwise contest nonetheless wins a multi-candidate contest. Our results challenge widely held contentions about the benefits of adopting RCV.