What is ranked-choice voting and where is it used?
RANKED-choice voting has entered the national spotlight thanks to the heat-up of the New York City mayoral race. But New York City isn't the only place that uses this unique voting system. Here's how it works: Cities that have ranked-choice voting, such as New York City, determine the winner of an election based on preference. This preference includes a voter putting down the first choice, second choice, third choice, and so on for the winner. Voters can prefer to choose one person to vote for if they want. The candidate with 50 percent or more of the first-choice vote is the winner. If a person does not receive 50 percent or more of the vote than the process will continue until someone has a majority. 4 The winner gets 50 percent or more of the first-choice vote Credit: EPA  In 2019, voters in New York voted for ranked-choice voting in a ballot measure. Maine is another state that practices ranked-choice voting. This practice is also done in countries like Australia and New Zealand. Most of the NYC mayoral candidates approve of ranked-choice voting. 4 New York City will use ranked-choice voting Credit: EPA  Andrew Yang, the former presidential candidate, believes ranked-choice voting is a great thing. "It could help prevent evermore polarized election campaigns, increase the number of women and minority candidates running for office, and reduce negative campaigning," he said. Ranked-choice voting critics say that it could make going to the polls more complicated for voters. Most read in News GRIM FEAR Maddie 'was killed hours after vanishing & body will be found in Portugal woods' JOE'S LOVE-IN Biden touts special relationship with Boris & jokes he's not going back to US Latest BLAZING INFERNO Three homes go up in flames and man seen firing gun at the scene 'MURDERER'S' HEALTH SCARE Robert Durst, 78, hospitalized in jail after 'health incident' Breaking SUPERMARKET RAMPAGE Gunman dies after 'killing 1 adult & a child' in grocery store shooting JILL-TED Jill Biden goes to shake hands with Boris Johnson  but he elbow bumps her instead  Our belief is that Maine voters do not know how to maximize their influence in ranked-choice elections by ranking all the candidates, which is compounded when political parties tell voters to rank only one candidate, said Matthew Gagnon, CEO of the Maine Heritage Policy Center. They also say it could make it easier for candidates to "game" the system. Critics of ranked-choice voting also say that it will change the way American presidential candidates are voted into office.