These elections show the benefit of preferential voting

There are several preferential voting models. Here I talk about "Instant Run-off" (2nd instant lap?):

• voters number the candidates from 1 to the number they want (they can number them all, number just one, number 3, whatever they want)
• In the first round, candidates are ranked by who has the most 1s
• the last candidate is excluded and their votes are redistributed according to the 2s
• the process continues (candidate with the fewest votes excluded, votes redistributed to whoever has the lowest number and is still in the race) until there are only two
• whoever has the most votes from the last two wins
• votes that have nowhere to go because the voter chose not to number any of the candidates still in the race are excluded

This system largely eliminates useful voting, and allows the electorate to express their real preference. In a race with so many candidates, it is possible (and here even probable) to have a 2nd round with candidates who do not account for 50% of the votes, and who are possibly not even the 2 who gather the most consensus.

There are similar methods for multi-member elections (e.g., Legislative or European), but the counting process is much more complex, which is a major disadvantage when it comes to explaining to voters the costs involved and the time it takes to determine results.