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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 1. Administration
Agency 20. State Board of Elections
Chapter 100. Ranked Choice Voting
2/8/2023

1VAC20-100-50. Ranked choice voting tabulation.

A. Instant runoff voting. For any election for one office conducted by ranked choice voting, each ballot shall count as one vote for the highest-ranked active candidate on that ballot. Tabulation shall proceed in rounds with each round proceeding sequentially as follows:

1. If two or fewer active candidates remain, the candidate with the greatest number of votes is elected and tabulation is complete.

2. If more than two active candidates remain, the active candidate with the fewest votes is defeated, votes for the defeated candidate are transferred to each ballot's next-ranked active candidate, and a new round begins with subdivision 1 of this subsection.

B. Single transferable vote. For any election for more than one office conducted by ranked choice voting, each ballot shall count, at its current transfer value, for the highest-ranked active candidate on that ballot. Tabulation shall proceed in rounds. Each round proceeds sequentially, until tabulation is complete, as follows:

1. If the sum of the number of elected persons and the number of active candidates is less than or equal to the number of office seats to be filled, then all active candidates are designated as elected, and tabulation is complete. Otherwise, the tabulation proceeds pursuant to subdivision 2 of this subsection.

2. If any active candidate has a number of votes greater than or equal to the election threshold for the contest, that person shall be designated as elected. Each ballot counting for an elected person is assigned a new transfer value by multiplying the ballot's current transfer value by the surplus fraction for the elected person, truncated after the fourth decimal place. The transfer value of each ballot cast for an elected candidate must be transferred to the highest-ranked active candidate on that ballot. Each person elected under this subdivision is deemed to have a number of votes equal to the election threshold for the contest in all future rounds and a new round begins pursuant to subdivision 1 of this subsection.

If no candidate or person is elected pursuant to subdivision 2 of this subsection, the candidate with the fewest votes is defeated and votes for the defeated candidates shall be transferred at their current transfer value to each ballot's next-ranked active candidate and a new round begins pursuant to subdivision 1 of this subsection.

C. Surplus transfer. If in a round of counting conducted under subsection B of this section, two or more active candidates have a number of surplus votes greater than the election threshold for the contest, the surpluses shall be distributed in rounds in which the largest surplus is distributed first, with any ties resolved by lot as required by § 24.2-674 of the Code of Virginia.

Statutory Authority

§ 24.2-673.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 9, eff. December 3, 2021.

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