MAKING RANKED CHOICE VOTING WORK FOR YOU

Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), also known as instant runoff voting, lets the public elect a candidate in a single election instead of needing a second one. It's simple:

1. Pick your favorite. Vote for whomever you think is best — you don't need to guess who's likely to win. You won't be throwing your vote away.
2. Pick your second favorite, in case your first choice gets too few first-place votes to stay in the running. If your top choice is eliminated, your vote automatically moves to your second choice.
3. Keep ranking until you only have one candidate left. That’s the person you like the least.

Here's What Will Happen

1. A race with only two candidates (Districts 4 and 7 this year) isn't affected by RCV — whoever gets the most votes wins.
2. A race with three candidates (District 8) If no one gets a majority of first-place votes in the first round, the last-place candidate is eliminated, and the second-place choices of that candidate’s supporters are distributed, determining the outcome.
3. Races with more than three candidates (District 1, with five) may go through several elimination rounds until someone has a majority of the votes.

Important Points to Note

1. Ranking more candidates keeps your vote in play. Ranking backups never hurts your first choice, so rank everyone whose positions you generally support. Your 2nd choice only counts if your 1st choice is out of the race.
2. Ranking only your #1 choice can cost you your voice if more than two candidates are running. If your top pick is eliminated and you have not indicated your second-place choice, it’s the same thing as not voting in a run-off election. You will have no say in who ultimately wins. 
3. Never give two candidates the same rank. Doing so cancels that rank and all the ranks below it. For example, if you rank two candidates #1, none of your choices in that race will count. Even if you like two candidates equally, pick one to rank higher. 
4. Rank each candidate only once. Ranking the same candidate more than once doesn't give them extra support. Once a candidate is eliminated, they're out for good, and your vote moves to the next different candidate on your ballot. So it’s pointless to rank any choice twice!

Bottom Line

Know your top issues and rank every candidate who supports them — even one whose campaign style bothers you. Ultimately, you want to help elect someone who shares your priorities and values.

Final Word of Caution

Don’t let endorsements be the only thing that guides your decision. Endorsements can be heartfelt, but organizations and individuals may have something to gain if they help a candidate get elected. So, know what candidates stand for first, and only use endorsements as a means of verification, not to short circuit doing your own work in choosing.