This is a very low-tech process, one that involves stacking ballots on a table — and not leaving a paper trail. Called the “preferential system,” it’s an intricate and little-used process also known as instant runoff voting. It can be used to come up with a slate of candidates. It also can be used to avoid runoff elections by looking at a voter’s second and third choices — but it only does that as needed. And, theoretically, it avoids the problems that can arise in a typical weighted system, in which your first choice gets 10 points, your second choice nine, etc. Ideally, the system means voters won’t have to play games with their ballots; they can vote for the films they truly believe are best, and the system will allocate their vote where it will do the most good. Your vote will go to your last-place choice only if your other choices don’t need it.