Can ranked-choice voting (RCV) be manipulated or “stacked”?
Yes — ranked-choice voting (RCV) can be manipulated or “stacked” , though it is more resistant to traditional forms of election rigging than plurality voting. However, strategic behavior , ballot design choices , and candidate coordination can still influence outcomes. Here are ways the “deck can be stacked” in RCV : 1. Candidate Cloning or "Crowding the Field" A group can run multiple similar candidates to dominate the ranked preferences of their voter base. If those candidates are eliminated, the votes transfer to another preferred candidate from the same faction. This is a subtle way of amplifying one ideology or group’s influence across the rankings. Example: A progressive bloc could run three similar candidates, knowing that their base will rank all three at the top. If the first two are eliminated, their votes naturally go to the third. 2. Strategic Ranking Recommendations Campaigns can ...