Each voter may rank the different choices in any order. Votes are initially counted for each voter's number one choice. If a candidate has more than half of the vote based on number one choices, that choice wins. If not, then the choice with the fewest number one votes is eliminated. Voters who had chosen the defeated choice as number one now have their number two choice counted as number one choice. The process continues over multiple rounds until a choice has more than half the votes.
The calculation of the results stops when one choice has more than 50% of the votes. Some options will show up as if they had not received any votes because they were eliminated in the ranked-choice voting process.
Pros: Determines the option with the strongest support and reduces wasted votes. Cons: Complex to understand. Will only determine one winner, doesn’t work well to select 2 or more winning options.
Try it for yourself!