Voters rank candidates by preference. What voting system is this?

• A. First Past the Post
• B. Mixed Member Proportional
• C. Preferential Voting
• D. Proportional Representation

Answer: (C)

Voters ranking candidates by preference describes preferential voting, where ballots record an order of choice and, if no candidate has a majority on first preferences, the lowest-ranked candidates are eliminated and their votes are redistributed to remaining candidates according to the next preferences. This process continues until a candidate surpasses 50%, producing a majority winner. That’s the hallmark of this system and is how it’s used in Australia’s elections, which is why it fits perfectly.

The other systems don’t fit as well because First Past the Post relies on a single vote for one candidate with no redistribution; Mixed Member Proportional mixes district results with party lists and doesn’t require ranking candidates in a single-winner race; Proportional Representation seeks seats in proportion to votes, usually via party lists, rather than a ranked single contest.