What is ranked-choice voting and how does it work in US elections?

Ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections, ranked-choice voting could affect closely watched contests, including the Alaska Senate race. Voters rank candidates by preference, and if no candidate wins a majority of first-choice votes, ballots can transfer to voters’ next picks. Alaska and Maine use the system statewide, while cities such as New York have adopted it as well. Supporters say it reduces strategic voting and the spoiler effect, while critics argue that ballots and vote-counting are more complicated.