Coombs' method is a ranked voting system. Like instant-runoff (IRV-RCV), Coombs' method is a sequential-loser method, where the last-place finisher according to one method is eliminated in each round. However, unlike in instant-runoff, each round has electors voting against their least-favorite candidate; the candidate ranked last by the most voters is eliminated.

The method fails several voting system criteria, including Condorcet's majority criterion, monotonicity, participation, and clone-independence. However, it does satisfy Black's single-peaked median voter criterion.

The method was popularized by Clyde Coombs. It was described by Edward J. Nanson as the "Venetian method" (which should not be confused with the Republic of Venice's use of score voting in elections for Doge).

Each voter rank-orders all of the candidates on their ballot. If a candidate is ranked first by a majority of voters, that candidate wins. Otherwise, the candidate ranked last by the largest number (plurality) of voters is eliminated, making each individual round equivalent to anti-plurality voting. Conversely, under instant-runoff voting, the candidate ranked first (among non-eliminated candidates) by the fewest voters is eliminated.

In some sources, the elimination proceeds regardless of whether any candidate is ranked first by a majority of voters, and the last candidate to be eliminated is the winner. This variant of the method can result in a different winner than the former one (unlike in instant-runoff voting, where checking to see if any candidate is ranked first by a majority of voters is only a shortcut that does not affect the outcome).

Suppose that Tennessee is holding an election on the location of its capital. The population is concentrated around four major cities. All voters want the capital to be as close to them as possible. The options are:

The preferences of each region's voters are:

Assuming all of the voters vote sincerely (strategic voting is discussed below), the results would be as follows, by percentage: