What is ranked-choice voting? Trump calls it fraudulent after Democrat Barbara Lee becomes Oakland mayor

US president Donald Trump has called ranked-choice voting a "fraudulent joke" and a threat to democracy, shortly after Democrat Barbara Lee was elected as mayor of Oakland, California, through this very system.

"Ranked-choice voting is one of the greatest threats to democracy. It is totally and very fraudulent joke," president Trump posted on Truth Social

Barbara Lee, known for her progressive stance and long-standing service in California politics, defeated former city councillor Loren Taylor. The final result came after nine rounds of vote tabulation, giving Lee just over 52% of the vote to Taylor’s 47%, according to Alameda County election officials.

What is ranked-choice voting?

• Ranked-choice voting, also called preferential voting, allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference instead of picking just one
• If a candidate receives more than 50% of first-choice votes, they win outright.
  
• If not, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated.
  
• Voters who chose the eliminated candidate then have their votes transferred to their next preference.
  
• This process continues until a candidate secures a majority.
  
• Supporters say this encourages candidates to appeal beyond their base, reduces polarisation, and gives voters more say
  
• Critics argue that it confuses voters, delays results, and weakens political parties. Some also say it doesn’t reflect how strongly voters feel about their choices.