What You Need to Know About Ranked Choice Voting

As New York City prepares for another election season, voters will again use Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in municipal primary and special elections. This system, first implemented in NYC in 2021, changes how votes are cast and counted, giving voters more flexibility and ensuring elected officials have majority support.

How Does Rankled Choice Voting Work?

Instead of selecting just one candidate, voters can rank up to five candidates in order of preference—first choice, second choice, and so on. If a candidate wins a majority (50%+1 of the vote) in the first round, they are declared the winner. If no candidate reaches a majority, the process moves to an instant runoff:

1. Ballots are counted based on first-choice selections.
2. If no candidate has a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated.
3. Votes from eliminated candidates transfer to the next-ranked choice on those ballots.
4. The process repeats until one candidate secures a majority. 

Why Use Ranked Choice Voting?

RCV ensures that election winners have broad support rather than being elected with just a small percentage of votes in a crowded race. It also eliminates the need for separate runoff elections, saving time and resources. 

How to Fill Out an RCV Ballot

1. Rank your favorite candidate as your first choice.
2. Select additional candidates in order of preference.
3. You do not have to rank all five candidates—only those you support.

Common Mistakes to Avoid 

• Overvoting: Marking more than one candidate in the same ranking column.
• Bullet Voting: Ranking only one candidate—if they are eliminated, your ballot becomes inactive.
• Ranking the Same Candidate Multiple Times: This does not help your chosen candidate and wastes rankings.

Which Elections Use RCV? 

RCV applies to NYC primary and special elections for:

• Mayor
• Public Advocate
• Comptroller
• Borough President
• City Council

This voting system gives New Yorkers more choices and encourages candidates to appeal to a broader range of voters. Understanding RCV helps ensure your vote counts and contributes to electing leaders representing the majority of the city.