The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

     (1) "Candidates who remain" means all candidates who have not been eliminated at a previous stage.

     (2) "Choice" means an indication on a ballot of a voter's ranking of candidates for any single office according to the voter's preference.

     (3) "Continuing ballot" means a ballot that is not exhausted.

     (4) "Exhausted ballot" means a ballot on which all indicated choices have become votes for the candidates so designated or when the ballot contains only choices for eliminated candidates.

     (5) "Instant runoff voting" means a system of voting in which voters may designate as many as three candidates for the same office in order of preference by indicating a first choice, a second choice, and a third choice.

     (6) "Last place candidate" means a candidate who has received the fewest votes among the candidates who remain at any stage. Two or more candidates simultaneously become last place candidates when their combined votes are equal to or fewer than all votes for the candidate with the third highest vote total.

     (7) "Next choice" means the highest ranked choice for a remaining candidate that has not become a vote at a previous stage.

     (8) "Remaining candidate" means a candidate who has not been eliminated.

     (9) "Stage" or "stage in the counting" means a step in the counting process during which votes for all remaining candidates are tabulated for the purpose of determining whether a candidate has achieved a majority of the votes cast for a particular office, and, absent a majority, which candidate or candidates must be eliminated.

     (10) "Vote" means a ballot choice that is counted toward election of a candidate. Except as provided by RCW 29A.53.050 and 29A.53.060, all first choices are votes. Lower ranked choices are potential votes that may, in accordance with the requirements of this chapter, be credited to and become votes for a candidate.

[2005 c 153 § 3.]