Full Form of IRV

What is IRV?

Instant-Runoff Voting (IRV) is a preferential voting system used to elect a single candidate without the need for multiple rounds of traditional runoff elections. In IRV, voters rank candidates in order of preference on a single ballot. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated, and those votes are transferred to the voters' next preferred candidate. This process repeats until one candidate achieves a majority. In India, IRV is not currently used for parliamentary or state assembly elections, which primarily follow the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system. However, IRV has been discussed in the context of electoral reforms, such as for electing the President of India or mayors in urban local bodies, as it can reduce strategic voting and ensure majority support. The system is also used in some universities and professional organizations within India for internal elections. For students preparing for competitive exams like UPSC, state civil services, or NTA-UGC NET, understanding IRV is relevant under the political science and public administration syllabi, particularly in topics related to electoral systems and voting behaviour. IRV is sometimes called the 'alternative vote' (AV) and is a variation of ranked-choice voting used in countries like Australia and Ireland.

IRV का फुल फॉर्म

Example

The Election Commission is studying the feasibility of implementing IRV for mayoral elections in metropolitan cities to ensure the winner commands a clear majority.

IRV — frequently asked questions