In 1990, Mary Robinson was elected the president of Ireland under Instant Runoff Voting in a competive 3-way contest. She placed second among 1st choices and received a majority of votes in the "instant" runoff.

How the votes counted in IRV:  First choices are counted. If no candidate receives a majority (50% + 1), the candidate with the fewest votes is defeated, and those votes are transferred to the next ranked candidate on each ballot. The votes are recounted. The process continues until one candidate has a majority of the votes and is declared the winner.

RESULTS TABLE