On this page
- Which contests will use RCV in the November 2026 election?
- How many candidates can I rank?
- Can I give multiple candidates the same ranking?
- Should I rank the same candidate multiple times if I really want them to win?
- Do I have to rank candidates that I don’t like?
- If I rank other candidates, does it affect my first choice?
- How do I vote for a write-in candidate?
- Since I can rank 6 candidates, does that mean I get six votes?
- How are votes counted in ranked choice voting?
Which contests will use RCV in the November 2026 election?
In the November 3, 2026 General Election, the following contests will use ranked choice voting:
- Multnomah County Chair, Auditor, Sheriff and District 2 Commissioner.
- Portland City Auditor and City Councilors for Districts 3 and 4.
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 up to six different choices for each office is optional and ranking additional candidates does not harm your 1st choice.
You do not have to rank candidates that you do not support. Ranking up to 6 different choices for each contest is optional.
Can I give multiple candidates the same ranking?
NO. 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?
NO. 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 defeated 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 defeated or, in multi-winner contests, if your first choice candidate receives more votes than they need to be elected.
See How RCV Ballots Are Counted for more information
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 defeated and ballots for that candidate are transferred to the voter's next choice.
If your 1st choice candidate is defeated, your vote is transferred to your 2nd choice candidate. If your 2nd choice candidate is defeated, 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.