Is Ranked‐Choice Voting Associated With Turnout Across Race/Ethnic Groups?

E. Dowling, Caroline Tolbert, Nathan Micatka and Todd Donovan

Social Science Quarterly, 2025, vol. 106, issue 3

Abstract: Objective Research suggests ranked‐choice voting (RCV) may increase the pool of candidates in local races and create incentives for campaign contacting which could increase voter turnout. Research also documents people of color may have lower levels of engagement with RCV. We examine how RCV is associated with turnout for communities of color and whether RCV widens participation gaps for racial groups. Methods We use voter file data combined with commercial data (Catalist) to compare turnout in local odd‐year elections across the United States in places that use RCV and in those that do not, and compare turnout within Minnesota cities. Results We find RCV places are not associated with lower turnout among people of color. If anything, the results suggest people from various race/ethnic groups examined here had higher rates of turnout in RCV cities than these groups had in other places, with greater turnout proportionately highest among Whites. Conclusion We conclude with caveats about the results and note a normative question these results might raise.

Date: 2025
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