Ranked Choice Voting: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is ranked choice voting?
- Ranked choice voting (RCV) is a method of voting that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference instead of choosing only one candidate. This method can allow your vote to count toward another candidate if your favorite candidate is eliminated.
- RCV can be used to elect one candidate (single-winner ranked choice voting) or to elect multiple candidates at the same time (multi-winner ranked choice voting).
See What is Ranked Choice Voting for more information.
How many candidates can I rank?
- There will be space to rank up to six candidates on your ballot. You can rank as few as one or as many as six. Ranking additional candidates will not hurt the chances of your first choice candidate.
Will my vote still count if I only rank one choice?
- Yes, you can still vote for just your 1st choice candidate. Ranking up to six different choices for each office is optional and ranking additional candidates does not harm your 1st choice.
Can I give multiple candidates the same ranking?
- Fill in no more than one column per rank column on your ballot.
- If you fill in the oval for multiple candidates in the rank column—for example, rank two candidates as your 1st choice—this is called an overvote. Your overvote is automatically skipped over in the tabulation process and your next highest ranking is elevated to take the place of the overvote.
Should I rank the same candidate multiple times if I really want them to win?
- Fill in no more than one oval in each candidate’s row on your ballot. If you rank a single candidate multiple times – for instance for rank 1, 2, and 3 – this does not help them.
- Only the highest ranking that you give that candidate will be accepted and each lower ranking for the same candidate is ignored as if you had skipped that ranking.
Do I have to rank candidates that I don’t like?
- You do not have to rank candidates that you do not support. Ranking up to 6 different choices for each contest is optional.
If I rank other candidates, does it affect my first choice?
- Ranking multiple candidates does not affect the chances of your 1st choice. Your 2nd, 3rd, and so on choices are only counted if your 1st choice candidate is eliminated from the contest. Ranking multiple candidates allows voters to still have a choice in who gets elected, even if their top choice does not win.
How do I vote for a write-in candidate?
- To vote for a candidate whose name is not on the ballot, write their name on the “Write-in” line and fill in an oval to rank your write-in choice.
Since I can rank 6 candidates, does that mean I get six votes?
- With ranked choice voting, you still only get one vote. Your 2nd, 3rd, and so on ranks are like backup choices. They are only counted if your 1st choice candidate is eliminated or, in multi-winner contests, if your first choice candidate receives more votes than they need to be elected.
What do I do if I make a mistake on my ballot?
- 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 note: You cannot change your vote or order a replacement ballot once you've mailed or dropped off your ballot.
What offices are being elected using ranked choice voting?
- In the November 2024 General Election, all City of Portland contests will use ranked choice voting, including: Portland Mayor, Auditor, and 12 City Council positions.
- Starting in November 2026, Multnomah County will also use ranked choice voting to elect the following officials: County Chair, County Commissioners, Auditor, Sheriff.
How are votes counted in ranked choice voting?
- Ranked choice voting contests are counted in rounds.
- In round 1 of counting ballots, all 1st rank votes are counted. If no candidate receives the required number of votes to win, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and ballots for that candidate are transferred to the voter's next choice.
- If your 1st choice candidate is eliminated, your vote is transferred to your 2nd choice candidate. If your 2nd choice candidate is eliminated, your vote is then transferred to your 3rd choice candidate, and so on. This process continues until candidates have enough votes to win.
- Tabulation varies slightly between single winner and multi-winner contests.
See How RCV Ballots are Counted for more information
Where else is ranked choice voting used?
- Several U.S. cities, counties and states use single-winner ranked choice voting to elect candidates, including: New York City, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Boulder, CO and the states of Alaska and Maine.
- Several U.S. cities and counties also use multi-winner ranked choice voting to elect candidates, including: Minneapolis, Arlington, VA and Cambridge, MA.
Why can voters only rank 6 candidates in RCV contests for the City of Portland?
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For the City of Portland ranked choice voting contests, the City’s Elections Division performed research into the number of ranks that should be provided on the ballot, considering the following: voter fatigue, ballot exhaustion, voter confusion, technical limitations, and typical best practices in jurisdictions already implementing ranked-choice voting. The Portland Elections Division then compiled this research and made a recommendation to the Portland City Council that the ballot allow at least 5 rankings and as many as 8 rankings. The Portland City Council made the final decision to go with 6 rankings in Portland Election Code 2.08.030.
