Ranked choice voting in elections

Background

Implement a system where the voter can select a 1st and 2nd choice candidate. If their 1st choice is not in contention for the seat, then their 2nd choice is used.

Additional details

Whenever there is an election on both the left and the right there is always talk of "splitting the vote." This leads, in my opinion, to the public voting against parties rather than for parties. I feel that implementing this choice system would be fairer and more democratic as voters would cast their vote more in line with their true feelings.