Getting Ready to Vote: What Is Ranked Choice Voting?
Portland’s next election is on Tuesday, November 3, and for the first time for many voters, local races will use ranked choice voting (RCV). If the term is new to you, you’re not alone, and getting familiar with it now can make Election Day a lot less stressful.
How it works
Instead of picking just one candidate, ranked choice voting lets you rank candidates in the order you prefer, your first choice, second choice, and so on, up to six candidates per race. You don’t have to rank every candidate, and you can only rank each candidate once.
If your top choice doesn’t have enough support to win, your vote simply moves to the next candidate you ranked. Your first choice is always counted first. Ranking backup choices never hurts your top pick.
In Portland, ranked choice voting is used to elect the mayor, auditor, and city councilors. Multnomah County also uses it to elect the county chair, commissioners, sheriff, and auditor.
A few things to remember
- Rank in order of preference, one candidate per row, one per column on the ballot.
- You don’t have to fill every ranking. Only rank candidates you’d actually want to see elected.
- Made a mistake? No problem. Just cross out the oval you filled in by mistake and mark your intended choice.
- Register to vote by October 13 to take part in this election.
Practice before you vote
The best way to feel confident is to try it out ahead of time. Portland City Elections offers a free practice ballot so you can see exactly what to expect before you fill out the real one.
Try a practice ballot at Portland.gov/vote/ballot
Want to learn more or bring this to your community?
We’ve put together a downloadable guide with plain-language explanations and answers to common questions about ranked choice voting, great for sharing at community gatherings, with family, or with anyone who wants a refresher before heading to the polls.
Download the Ranked Choice Voting Toolkit (PDF)
Have questions about the ballot? Portland City Elections can help. Reach them at elections@portlandoregon.gov or (503) 823-4022.
