As you prepare to participate in New York City's upcoming elections, it's important to familiarize yourself with the Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) system. This system applies to positions such as Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President, and City Council members.
How Ranked Choice Voting Works:
- Ranking Candidates: On your ballot, you can rank up to five candidates in order of preference, from your first choice to your fifth. If you prefer, you can still vote for just one candidate.
- Counting Votes: All first-choice votes are counted initially. If a candidate receives more than 50% of these votes, they are declared the winner. If no candidate achieves this majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Voters who selected the eliminated candidate as their first choice will have their votes transferred to their next choice. This process continues in rounds until a candidate secures a majority.
Reporting of Results:
- Election Night: Unofficial results, including first-choice votes from early voting, election day, and any valid absentee ballots canvassed, will be posted at the close of polls. These will not include affidavit ballots.
- Subsequent Updates: Preliminary RCV elimination rounds will be tabulated and an unofficial report will be released one week after the election. This tally will include any absentee ballots scanned BEFORE Election Day. 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.
Should I only vote for the one candidate I want?
- You can – but ranking your #2 – #5 options won’t affect your Number One choice. Those ranked votes are only counted IF your first choice is eliminated. So if you have a genuine preference, vote your conscience and rank a #2 – #5!
For a more detailed explanation and instructional videos on Ranked Choice Voting, please visit the NYC Board of Elections website.
Understanding this system will empower you to make informed choices and ensure your vote has the maximum impact. We hope that you support us across the finish line!
Best regards,
Team Ramos
P.S. If you still want to change your registration and vote in the Democratic Primary, you can still hand-deliver a party enrollment change directly to your local Board of Elections TODAY, February 14th.
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