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Ranked choice voting

Ranked choice voting

Learn about Ranked Choice Voting for NYC Local Elections



The June 27 Primary Election will use ranked choice voting for City Council. Other offices on the ballot will not use ranked choice voting since they are not city offices.

New York City will use ranked choice voting for Primary and Special Elections for the offices of Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President and City Council, due to an amendment in the City Charter approved by voters in 2019.

When will results be reported?

All first-choice votes are counted. If a candidate receives more than 50% of first-choice votes, that candidate wins.

If no candidate earns more than 50% of first-choice votes, then counting will continue in rounds.

At the end of each round, the last-place candidate is eliminated and voters who chose that candidate now have their vote counted for their next choice.

Your vote is counted for your second choice only if your first choice is eliminated. If both your first and second choices are eliminated, your vote is counted for your next choice, and so on.

This process continues until there are two candidates left. The candidate with the most votes wins.

When will results be reported?

Unofficial election night results will be posted at the close of polls on election day. These results will include first-choice votes from early voting, election day and any valid absentee ballots canvassed but will not include affidavit ballots.

One week later, preliminary RCV elimination rounds will be tabulated and an unofficial report will be released. The tally will include any absentee ballots scanned before Election Day.

The ranking of candidates may continue to change until all absentee and affidavit ballot processing is completed and all cure deadlines have expired.

Preliminary RCV elimination rounds will be conducted and reports released every week until the election is certified. Final results in ranked choice elections will not be known until all ballots are counted.

When will results be certified?

Election results will not be certified until all ballots are counted including absentee, military, affidavit and emergency.


Ranked choice voting on the AutoMark Ballot Marking Device

You can rank up to 5 candidates in order of preference: your 1st choice candidate, your 2nd choice candidate, and so on up to your 5th choice candidate.

The AutoMark displays each “choice” as a separate screen

  1. On the first screen, you will select your first-choice candidate

  2. If you have a second-choice candidate, you will select that candidate on the next screen labeled “Choice 2”

You can choose to rank up to 5 candidates

  1. If you prefer, you can still vote for just one candidate. To do so, select your 1st choice candidate on the “Choice 1” screen and do not select anyone for any other “Choice” screens

  2. You can only choose one candidate per “Choice” screen

  3. Do not select the same candidate for multiple “Choice” screens



What is ranked choice voting?

Voters can rank up to five candidates in order of preference, instead of casting a vote for just one.

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How does it work?

You can rank up to five candidates in order of preference, instead of choosing just one. If a candidate receives more than 50% of 1st-choice votes, they are the winner. If no candidate earns more than 50% of 1st-choice votes, then counting will continue in rounds. At the end of each round, the candidate with the fewest votes will be eliminated. If you ranked that candidate 1st, your vote will go to the next highest ranked candidate on your ballot. This process will continue until there are two candidates left. The candidate with the most votes wins.

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How do I fill out my ballot?

Pick your first-choice candidate and fill in the oval next to their name under the 1st column. If you have a second-choice candidate, fill in the oval next to their name under the 2nd column. You can continue until you rank up to 5 candidates.

  • You do not have to rank all five.
  • You can still vote for just one candidate and leave the other columns blank.
  • You can only choose one candidate for each column.
  • You cannot rank the same candidate more than once.
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How to Mark Your Ballot

Mark your ballot by order of preference.

  • Rank as many or as few candidates as you like
  • Choose one candidate for each column
  • 1st choice - Pick your favorite candidate
  • 2nd choice - Fill in second column
  • Followed by your 3rd, 4th and 5th choice

DON’T: Fill in more than one oval for a candidate

DON’T: Give more than one candidate the same ranking

Ovals that are not filled in completely cannot be read by the machine

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I don’t want to rank all the candidates?

You do not have to rank all five. You can rank as many or as few candidates (up to 5) as you like. If you choose to vote for only one candidate, just leave the other columns blank.

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If I rank other candidates, does it affect my first choice?

No. Ranking other candidates does not affect your first choice. Only your first choice is counted in Round 1. Your second, third, fourth, and other choices will be considered only if your first-choice candidate does not win.

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Under what circumstances can my first choice be eliminated?

If no candidate receives more than 50% of first-choice votes, the last-place candidate is eliminated. If your first choice is eliminated, your next choice will be counted, and so on. The process of elimination continues until there is a winner.

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If I really want my first-choice candidate to win, should I rank the candidate as my first, second, and third choice, and so on?

No. Your vote can count only once for your first choice. If you rank the same candidate first, second, and third, it is the same as leaving the second and third choices blank.

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Can I give multiple candidates the same ranking?

No. If you give multiple candidates the same ranking, this is called an “over-vote”. Your vote in that rank and later ranks cannot be counted.

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What election offices are not using Ranked-Choice Voting?

The following elections are not subject to ranked-choice voting as this applies just to NYC elections at this time:

  • President
  • Governor
  • US Senate
  • Surrogate
  • Supreme Court Judges
  • Civil Court Judges
  • District Attorney
  • Congress
  • State Senate
  • Assembly
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Is the ranked choice ballot accessible?

Yes, the rank choice ballot is compatible with the ballot marking devices as well as the accessible version of the absentee ballot.

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How do I vote for a write-in candidate?

To vote for a candidate whose name is not on the ballot, write the name on the “Write-in” line, and fill in an oval to rank your choice.

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Why Now?

In a 2019 ballot measure, 73.5% of New York City Voters voted yes for Ranked-Choice Voting.

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