Voting with an RCV Ballot
Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference instead of choosing only one.
Sample Ballots
Familiarize yourself with ranked choice ballots by viewing examples for each of Portland’s four districts:
Samples of ranked choice ballots for all City of Portland districts and precincts can be found here. Visit the online precinct map to find your local precinct with district information, using the address search button.
How to fill out your ballot
Whether you are voting in contest for a single winner (such as Mayor of Portland) or multiple winners (such as for Portland City Councilors), the ballot layout and steps to vote will look the same:
- Fill one oval in the Rank 1 column for the candidate you like the most.
- If you have a candidate that you like second best, fill in one oval in the Rank 2 column for that candidate.
- You are allowed to rank up to six candidates, but you can vote for only one candidate if you prefer. Ranking other candidates does not harm your Rank 1 choice.
- To write in a candidate, write the candidate’s name on the line provided and fill in the oval for the rank of your choice.
Check out this comic to learn more about how to fill out your ballot
Ranked Choice Voting Comic (1.63 MB)
Practice ranking your choices with a mock election
Made a mistake on your ballot? Don’t worry!
If you make a mistake on your ballot, you can correct it. See the examples below for how to correct your ballot if you fill in more than one oval in a column or a row.
It is critical that you make your choice obvious because election workers will inspect each ballot to make sure voter intent is understood and the ballot is counted correctly.
If your ballot has been destroyed or has an error that cannot be corrected, you can order a replacement ballot. Please remember: You cannot change your vote or order a replacement ballot once you've mailed or dropped off your ballot.
